ON A KNIFE HEDGE
Marios boosts Accies’ survival hopes after Ryan’s opener
IT’S a bit early for The Great Escape music to be aired once again at Hamilton this season but last night some would have been humming the tune.
After a dismal first half for the beleaguered Lanarkshire side which had them trailing to a Ryan Hedges opener, a resurgence after the break brought a leveller through Marios Ogkmpoe’s header to bring a five-game run of league defeats to a halt.
As the Dons blew the chance to edge within a point of Celtic, it was Accies who closed the gap to three points behind St Mirren having played two games more.
But the losing streak at last is over as Brian Rice’s men try to climb towards safety with a second-half display which offers a whole lot more than just hope.
Rice opted to start the same 11 which suffered defeat at Dundee United in their last outing but his counterpart Derek McInnes was forced to shuffle his pack due to Covid-19 issues.
Ross McCrorie, Connor McLennan and Lewis Ferguson remain sidelined as a result of the Scotland Under-21s coronavirus outbreak but it was the Dons who began on the front foot.
Matty Kennedy fired over the top from an inviting delivery from Greg Leigh in the opening minutes as the action was all taking place in front of Accies keeper Ryan Fulton.
Hamilton then found their feet and began to exert some pressure with the contest flowing from end to end as the hosts looked to carry the fight to their rivals. It wasn’t to last.
Curtis Main could only manage to glance a cross from Kennedy wide of target in the 18th minute but it only delayed the opener for the visitors as Accies failed to clear their lines in the 20th minute.
A poor defensive header allowed Kennedy a cross which was blocked and Hedges was on hand to rattle home the loose ball.
It could have been worse for the home side moments later as Fulton was forced into a fullstretch stop to deny Sam Cosgrove by pushing his shot against a post.
A spirited start for Rice’s men had now become a battle not to be overrun before the break.
The potent attacking trio of Cosgrove, Main and Hedges were proving too hot to handle for Hamilton with the able assistance of Kennedy from a deeper role as the Pittodrie side set about trying to cushion their lead.
A superb interception by Brian Easton denied Main who was inches from converting a teasing cross from the left from Funso Ojo on the half-hour mark as the traffic continued to flow in
Hamilton’s direction. It was turning into another confidencesapping night for a side who were lacking the guile required to get the better of an Aberdeen defence who were having things all their own way.
The half came to a close with the home backline again in panic station mode as Fulton managed to push away a low Cosgrove cross as Easton swept the ball to safety.
Relief came in the sound of referee Gavin Duncan’s whistle to signal an interval retreat.
It had been an impressive, slick and attacking display by the Dons which was contrasted by an Accies side who were yet to register a shot at goal.
McInnes’ men attempted to reassert their superiority straight from the restart but it was the hosts who dragged themselves level after 49 minutes.
Scott McMann’s fired free-kick into the box was headed across goalkeeper Joe Lewis by the unmarked Ogkmpoe and into the corner of the net.
At a stroke, the Dons appeared vulnerable.
A failure to make the most of their dominance in the opening 45 minutes had cost them.
The goal galvanised Rice’s side who started play with renewed
belief after making the most of a rare moment of quality.
The home team were now competitive in every department, fighting for every ball and an entirely different proposition from their first-half offerings as they started to enjoy some decent possession of their own.
The transformation was stark and Ogkmpoe was claiming for a penalty in the 65th minute after tumbling under an Ash Taylor challenge but his appeals fell on deaf ears. It was another moment of anxiety for the Dons.
Their free-flowing attacking play had been replaced by the frustration of being unable to get through an Accies defence which had now plugged the gaps and were scrapping for every ball.
Rice’s men also managed to carry some luck as Kennedy’s thunderous strike from the edge of the area was blocked before Ryan Edmundson’s effort on the rebound was deflected wide as Aberdeen put on a late squeeze.
Aaron Martin then saw his shot well blocked at the other end as both teams searched for three precious points.
The last act belonged to Accies and had it not been for a brilliant stop by Lewis to keep out David Moyo’s strike then the hosts would have secured the win.