TEMPS: I LIKE A FINE WHINE
Accies’ elder statesman is happy to advise next generation FRASER WILSON AT THE TONY MACARONI ARENA
DAVID TEMPLETON admits he is having to curb the grumpy old man in him to help bring through the next generation of stars at Hamilton.
It’s not so long ago the playmaker was one for the future himself as a prodigious talent at Hearts. But now he’s the old head in Accies’ dressing room.
And he played the part of elder statesman to perfection as he dragged Brian Rice’s side to three precious points with an El Plastico masterclass at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
Templeton thumped in a second-half equaliser after Livingston had raced ahead with a goal in just 29 seconds.
The Accies No.10 then produced a perfect assist from a free-kick for 18-year-old Kyle Munro to head home a dream winner on his full debut with just five minutes remaining.
Templeton, 31, said: “I ’ m delighted for him. Kyle is a young kid who works really hard every day in training. There are loads of talented kids here. It’s the same every year at Hamilton.
“It is a club that always produces good players and it’s nice to see Kyle come in and get the goal. I’m sure that will give him plenty of confidence.
“It’s strange being the one giving out advice before games. At times I’m still really moany on the pitch so I need to make that constructive and help the boys along.
“I was saying to Kyle before the game if he gives the ball away, not to worry about it. Just try to do the right things and he did.”
Temps was the only player over the age of 27 in a starting line-up that contained two 18-year-olds – left-back
Munro and midfielder Reegan Mimnaugh – while a third, Andy Winter, came off the bench.
But they suffered a horror start as Shaun Want diverted a low cross into his own net following good work on the left by Lars Lokotsch and Alan Forrest.
Accies had keeper Ryan Fulton to thank for keeping them in the game as he saved from Forrest and Marvin Bartley. But Rice’s side grew into the game with Templeton eager to get on the ball at every opportunity. He won fouls, linked play well and even tried to chip Robby McCrorie from his own half after 38 minutes.
Templeton found the net in the 56th minute when he hammered home the rebound after ex-Livi defender Hakeem Odoffin battered a header off the bar.
Livi should have regained the lead 12 minutes from time when Scott Pittman managed to blast a half-volley off the underside of the bar from just four yards. But it was Accies who took the points when debut hero Munro headed home Templeton’s free-kick.
And their ‘veteran’ talisman said: “I think the club is used to being written off and we’ve always thrived on that. Last time I was here it was the same.
“Everyone writes you off and the more they do, the more we want to shut people up and keep ourselves in the league. Results like this show we are up for the battle.”