CRAWF THE HOOK
Ali’s late free-kick saves Accies
If survival in cut-throat circumstances takes steel and stubborn determination, Hamilton should be pencilled in for next season’s Premiership.
It doesn’t seem to matter how many knocks and w inless matches Martin Canning’s side endure, they always stand strong and come back for more. For 77 minutes in Dingwall there was only one winner. County spurned all but one of a bucket- load of chances, Liam Boyce creating the first-half lead. But a free-kick from Ali Crawford again underlined Accies’ unflappable defiance. This was the seventh time from seven attempts they had failed to win on the road in the league. They have now won just once in 10 games but the durability was there for all to see. Crucially, within that 10-game run there lies six draws – proof enough of the visitors’ resistance. County spurned four or f ive excellent chances and saw what might have been a good ‘goal’ from substitute Alex Schalk dubiously wiped out for offside by assistant referee Kylie McMullan. Manager Canning, whi le admitting the overall performance was poor, praised that spirit of resilience in fighting back. The Accies boss said: “I’ve stood speaking after games many times before and been disappointed with a point, today I’m happy with a point. If I’m being honest Ross County were probably slightly better than us, created more.
“But I feel it is progression for us as well. It’s a game we would have lost in the past.
“The boys dug-in really well when it wasn’t going our way. You need to find a way to stay in the game and then it has taken a bit of magic from Ali Crawford.”
Chances mounted from the opening minute when a burst of County pressure saw Andrew Davies’ header test keeper Gary Woods and then Michael Gardyne drive just wide.
In 14 minutes Boyce went close with a header and midway through the half Daniel Seaborne’s saving tackle from the striker eight yards out prevented the opener, while a minute later Grant Gillespie was on the line to block as Davies slid in.
All Scott Fox had been forced to deal with was one punched clearance but, finally, six minutes before the break, County pressure told.
Winger Gardyne’s cross was perfectly-flighted to find Boyce free at the back of the six-yard box and he headed inside the left-hand post for his eighth of the season.
Curran exited injured at the break with Alex Schalk grasping his chance. Accies were soon up against it again but Boyce fired wide of goal.
County’s quest for the killer second continued as Schalk struck the ball wide.
Accies brought on Dougie Imrie on the hour for his 400th senior appearance before Schalk had his confident finish chalked off– wrongly, County claimed – for offside.
Accies were level in 77 minutes when Boyce gave away a free- kick 25 yards out and Crawford expertly swirled a wonderful strike past helpless Fox.
Schalk had another two chances, firing one wide and smacking a last attempt off Woods’ legs.