Accies on way down
Agony for Hamilton as County plot an escape route
HAMILTON Accies’ seven-year stay in the Premiership is all but over after Charlie Lakin’s winner took Ross County to the brink of safety.
Scott McMann’s 26th-minute opener for the visitors was immediately wiped out by a Blair Spittal reply, but it was Lakin’s stunning 70th-minute strike that nudged County clear of automatic relegation and to within a point of safety.
Accies, the top-flight’s great survivors for so many seasons, would now need to overturn a
SKY SILENT FOLLOWING RELEGATION BLACKOUT
SKY SPORTS refused to explain why there was a TV blackout of the Scottish Premiership last night, in particular the relegation showdown between Ross County and Hamilton. Fans up and down the country were bemused that the broadcaster blanked the crunch match in Dingwall. There are suggestions that Sky only have one selection left and opted to gamble that there will be a live issue this Sunday. A spokesman said: ‘We’ll be making no comment on this.’ massively superior Kilmarnock goal difference in miraculous fashion by hammering them 9-0 at home on Sunday to stay in the division.
County, away to Motherwell on the final day, now need a draw to remain in the Premiership and dodge the play-offs after Killie’s share of the spoils with St Mirren.
It was a night of ragged, nervy and often chaotic confrontation between two teams carrying with them a hint of panic and a distinct air of desperation.
But County’s second back-toback wins of the campaign — the first having come in the opening two matches — had them celebrating at the final whistle.
Accies, a point adrift of second bottom Kilmarnock at kick-off, simply knew they had to win.
The technical areas were unusually quiet with County’s John Hughes and opposite number Brian Rice, his former assistant at several clubs, both banned and seated in the stands.
Great friends to this day, the pair chose opposite sides of the ground from which to watch and won’t have been overjoyed with what they saw unfold in a messy, sluggish first 25 minutes.
A cagey start produced two early bookings and a third after 20 minutes, but no goalmouth action at all. That would change inside 26 minutes.
Accies’ opener was excellent, stemming from a free-kick award right on the Staggies’ 18-yard line after McMann was tripped by County midfielder Jordan Tillson.
McMann took it himself and, with County’s wall leaping, drilled a superb low effort under their feet and past a near motionless Ross Laidlaw.
County, though, responded almost immediately.
Less than two minutes later, a high ball forward was neatly knocked down by Jordan White and Spittal grasped his chance with relish, thundering a low strike into the bottom corner.
That would be the Dingwall team’s only meaningful threat in the first half, though.
It was becoming increasingly chaotic and just before the half hour mark uncharacteristic slackness saw Michael Gardyne lose the ball clumsily in midfield.
Ross Callachan strode on to it, pushed on and then smacked the lower left-hand post with a
thumping attempt from 20 yards. Accies had their tails up towards half-time, but couldn’t restore the lead before half-time.
Early in the second half, play tore from end-to-end with Spittal flashing an angled right foot attempt wide of the far post.
The hosts were livelier, but Accies responded with Jamie Hamilton’s long ball into the box headed just over by McMann.
It was McMann again, almost on the hour, who marauded clear on the left and saw his clipped cross finding Callachan going close with a rising header just over the bar.
Injury forced the County technical area into a 65th minute substitution that proved pivotal in sending them after just five minutes later.
Lakin replaced Celtic loanee Leo Hjelde after he suffered injury.
Lakin is prone to inspired moments and his instant, low left foot strike from the left of the box was a brilliant connection to cap a fine move ending in another neat White lay-off.
With Kilmarnock winning at home to St Mirren, Accies’ deficit meant relegation unless something changed in either of the two ties.
The visitors made a swift change after losing the second goal, with left winger Nathan Thomas on for skipper Brian Easton.
Almost immediately Thomas supplied David Moyo for a header over the bar.
The away team mounted an aerial bombardment, with hit and hope deliveries testing
County but becoming increasingly desperate as the minutes ticked by.
County could have sealed it with a minute remaining when substitute Harry Paton tore clean through on the away keeper but held his head in despair after rippling the side-netting.