DEBUT BOYS A HIT FOR ACCIES
BRIAN RICE lavished praise upon his deadly debutants Andy Dales and Andy Winter as Hamilton racked up their biggest Scottish Cup win in 98 years.
Accies hadn’t enjoyed such a margin of victory in the tournament since a 9-0 win over Gala Fairydean in 1922.
Signed on loan from Scunthorpe United, Dales got off to a flier with the opening goal and 17-year-old Winter’s late strike proved a real highlight amid other efforts from Scott McMann, Scott Martin and Mickel Miller.
Dales was particularly impressive in the 61 minutes he played before being replaced by Winter — with manager Rice expecting much more when he has built up his match fitness.
‘He was something I was looking for as he is a ball carrier, who gets you up the pitch,’ said Rice, who is waiting for fitness reports on full-backs Aaron McGowan and McMann after they were taken off injured.
‘He will excite the fans. I was screaming at him to get forward as I want him to try to score goals and create chances.
‘Andy Winter is another young lad who deserves his chance. The kid’s been training with the first team for about six weeks.
‘He’s scored goals at every level he’s played at. It’s not a gamble for me putting him in as he’s got the attributes and the work rate.’
The teenager is the son of former
Grade One official Brian Winter, who was in the stand in an official capacity as the SFA’s referee observer.
With that background, debut goal or not, young Andy was never going to overdo it with the celebrations and pick up a booking.
‘There was a temptation, but no,’ he laughed. ‘My dad was in the stand and so was my mum and sister. That’s who I pointed at when I scored.
‘I had a wee feeling today was the day I’d get on and I am buzzing that I took my chance.’
Dales offered an early indication of his threat when ghosting into space inside the area to get his head to a Miller cross — only to see his effort bounce down off the crossbar before being cleared by Craig Thomson.
Midway through the opening period, Dales broke the deadlock. McGowan slung the ball in and the 25-year-old got in ahead of his man again to send a downward header bouncing into he net.
McMann made it 2-0 after picking up a loose ball 20 yards out and releasing a screamer of a shot with his left foot that flew into the corner to goalkeeper Alan Martin’s left.
And just before the interval, a spot of good fortune put Accies’ name in the hat for the fifth round draw.
Blair Alston squared the ball to Martin around 25 yards from goal and his speculative effort hit off Conrad Balatoni, leaving Edinburgh City keeper Martin wrongfooted as it zipped into the net.
Dales’ replacement Winter marked his debut outing in Accies first-team colours with a nicely-converted goal 10 minutes from the end.
Taking a pass from George Oakley on the right of the area, he made space away from his marker and rifled a low shot across the keeper and into the far corner.
Miller then wrapped it up six minutes from time with a header at the back post from a Johnny Hunt cross.