Hammill has the magic touch but battling Hibs deliver their own spark
YET another wonder goal from adam Hammill, this time from the halfway line. Plus an assist for good measure. and it still wasn’t enough to drag St Mirren to victory over a Hibs side who twice fought back to grab a 2-2 draw at Easter road.
Neil Lennon’s team may still be in the midst of a long and dreary run without a victory to their name, their series stretched to seven with this result.
But it could have been so much worse for the home side. and so much better for visitors who are now just one point clear of bottom dogs dundee at the foot of the Premiership.
Hammill’s spectacular strike, lobbing the ball beyond adam Bogdan from inside his own half, set Saints on their way after just six minutes.
Hibs equalised 11 minutes into the second half, young Oli Shaw — one of five changes made by Lennon — bagging his first goal since august.
Hammill then saw a free-kick diverted past Bogdan by Paul McGinn, perhaps with a little help from Efe ambrose, midway through the second half as Oran Kearney’s men reclaimed the light.
again Hibs fought back, ryan Porteous thundering home a Stevie Mallan header to earn a share of the spoils.
Neither side seemed particularly happy with a single point. In Scottish football terms, that probably makes it close to a perfect result.
Hibs went into this one on a sixgame winless run, having racked up four draws and two losses since their 6-0 thumping of Hamilton way back on October 6.
against a St Mirren side boasting just one victory in their previous 15 outings, that 2-0 home win against Hearts a week-and-a-half ago representing a rare flash of light amid the gloom, Lennon’s men surely fancied their chances.
The Easter road boss took some drastic action to shake up the fortunes of his free-falling squad, making a full quintet of changes to the starting XI left embarrassed amid the blackout at rugby Park on Saturday.
From the side who lost 3-0 to Kilmarnock, darren McGregor, Mark Milligan and Miquel Nelom were relegated to the bench — while Paul Hanlon and Steven Whittaker weren’t even among the substitutes.
In came the ever-reliable Lewis Stevenson, stand-in captain Marvin Bartley, daryl Horgan, Shaw and — in a first appearance for Hibs — Charalampos ‘Harry’ Mavrias.
The Greek full-back, formerly of Sunderland, signed as a free agent on a short-term contract in October, with his deal due to expire at the end of January.
That seemed to be a popular sort of move for Scottish clubs shopping around earlier this season.
Indeed, it was on just such a deal that Kearney signed veteran winger Hammill — and it had already paid off even before last night.
None of the three goals Hammill had scored for Saints came close, though, to his strike here. No, not even the screamer that helped do for Hearts.
Vision, touch, ambition and accuracy were all required to first spot Bogdan creeping towards the edge of his penalty box — and then to send the ball soaring over the back-pedalling Hibs keeper.
The home side were stunned. Hell, there wasn’t anyone in the stadium who could claim not to be just a little shocked.
How often do you see a goal of such stupendous audacity? On this most dreich of december nights, it fair lifted the gloom. Well, among the small knot of away fans, at least. The home support were, understandably, less than thrilled to see their team fall behind so early.
They demanded a swift response. at some volume.
Hibs did rally against a St Mirren side who lost danny Mullen to injury inside the opening 20 minutes, spending long spells in possession and on the attack.
Martin Boyle volleyed wide from outside the box, while Mallan almost scored a beauty against his former club, waltzing and barging his way past two defenders before dragging his shot off target.
Mallan also supplied a great through pass to Florian Kamberi with 26 minutes gone, the Swiss forward hitting a cross-shot that eventually fell to Stevenson — who saw his left-footed screamer tipped over by danny rogers.
Horgan was probably the most dangerous player in green and white on the night, switching flanks to deliver crosses and passes that begged to be put away.
But neither Kamberi nor Shaw could find a finishing touch as the first half dragged to a close, with the latter particularly profligate just before the break, trundling a tame shot straight at rogers after a brilliant counter-attack.
Just seconds into the second half, Hibs were on the attack again, Kamberi unable to connect this time after Stevenson’s deep cross had been kept in play by the head of Shaw.
The home side lost Bartley to injury moments later, Milligan coming on in his place.
and they were down another man when Hibs equalised with 56 minutes on the clock.
Boyle did brilliantly to fly down the right wing and drive to the byeline before drilling in a low cross that Shaw put away at the near post.
But the visitors were left spitting feathers because Kyle Magennis was down injured — yet lying off the pitch — as Hibs played on.
The absence of Magennis undoubtedly left space for Boyle to exploit. But referee Euan anderson could hardly have stopped play in the circumstances.
Having seized upon their bit of good fortune, Hibs now went chasing the winner. Well, you could predict what was going to happen next, right?
Eleven minutes after being pegged back, Hammill’s free-kick into the box was missed by plenty — but just glanced off the head of McGinn, via ambrose, and beyond the helpless Bogdan.
Hibs needed to find something again. and they did. Mallan’s corner was brilliant, Porteous meeting it with a header worthy of the delivery.
Five minutes of stoppage time couldn’t bring the home side the winner their pressure play arguably deserved.
But no one could say it wasn’t entertaining.
HIBERNIAN (4-4-2): Bogdan 5; Mavrias 6, Ambrose 6, Porteous 7, Stevenson 7; Boyle 6, Bartley 5 (Milligan 59), Mallan 6, Horgan 5 (MacLaren 87); Kamberi 5 (Slivka 54), Shaw 6. Subs (not used): Marciano, Nelom, McGregor, Gullan. Booked: Bartley, Mallan, Mavrias, Milligan. ST MIRREN (4-2-3-1): Rogers 6; P McGinn 6, Ferdinand 6, Jones 6, Erhahon 5; S McGinn 5, Magennis 5 (Willock 57); Hodson 5, Edwards 6, Hammill 8; Mullen 4 (Smith 17 (Baird 80). Subs not used: Lyness, McShane, MacPherson, Eckersley. Man of the match: Adam Hammill. Referee: Euan Anderson. Attendance: 15,096.