Top scorer Hakeem delights Accies boss
HAMILTON ACCIES..................1
DUNDEE UTD...........................1
Mark Pirie at New Douglas Park
Hamilton boss Brian Rice has heaped praise on defender Hakeem Odoffin after the defender continued his scoring streak against Dundee United.
The summer signing from Livingston impressed again as Accies earned a hard-fought point at New Douglas Park – their first at home so far this season.
Rice is delighted with the contribution of the surprise top scorer, as Odoffin grabbed his third of the campaign with an impressive diving header.
The Accies boss told the Advertiser: “There is only one way to score goals like that and you need to put your body on the line.
“He played for a club, Livingston, where they do that. “It’s brilliant for the boy.
“He hadn’t scored at first-team level before he came here and I’m delighted for him.”
Lawrence Shankland put Micky Mellon’s side ahead at New Douglas Park before Odoffin’s effort earned Accies a share of the spoils.
The visitors took an early lead as Adrian Sporle found space on the right side of the box after three minutes, before his low cross found Shankland in the box to tap the ball into the net.
Accies then carved out their first chance as neat work by David Templeton on the edge of the box allowed him to cross the ball, which eventually fell to Kyle Munro. However, the wingers shot was deflected wide.
It should have been two after 16 minutes when Nicky Clark’s inch-perfect pass found Logan Chalmers running into the box on the right flank. However, the midfielder blazed the ball over.
After 22 minutes, good work by Munro allowed the teenager to chip a good ball from the left into the box, however Tunde Owolabi skewed his header wide of Benjamin Siegrit’s left-hand post.
A Templeton free-kick from the edge of the box allowed Owolabi, starting his first game for the side since his switch from FC United of Manchester, but the striker’s header from the near post went wide just before the break.
Micky Mellon’s men continued to cause problems from the wings and a Luke Bolton ball after 57 minutes was almost a carboncopy of the opener, but a lastditch Shaun Want tackle stopped Shankland connecting in the sixyard-box.
Shankland was again at the centre of things moments later as he slipped through Clark oneon-one, but Fulton stopped the low drive well with his legs.
Accies were back level as a Templeton free-kick was met by Odoffin’s diving header after 75 minutes to draw the game level.
Rice admitted a draw was “probably a fair result” in the end.
He added: “When you come in on a Saturday and you’ve moved up the league that’s what you want, that’s the aim.
“I never look too far ahead, but the energy the players show is demanded here.”