CLARK KENT
Nicky is United’s Superman as Ross goes from hero to zero
Ecstatic Micky Mellon lapped up the “madness” as Nicky Clark’s deadly double fired Dundee United past Hamilton in a topsyturvy Tannadice clash.
The on-form striker broke Accies hearts in a frantic second-half as the home side came from behind to sink the Premiership’s basement boys.
Clark rounded off a sweeping move to level matters after Ross Callachan’s guided header gave Accies a shock lead following a dire first 45 minutes.
But that surprise opening goal set the fuse on a dramatic second period, with Clarke lashing home a sumptuous second just four minutes after his clinical leveller.
United were made to sweat over a late Callachan penalty but the midfielder spurned the chance to grab his own double with a wild effort miles off target to leave Accies without a win in seven league outings.
It was cruel on Brian Rice’s hard- working outf it, who showed signs of life after the interval in a bid to make amends for an Ibrox horror show last time out. But Clark’s potency with the goal in his sights proved the difference to leave boss Mellon (right) savouring a seven-game unbeaten run.
He said: “It’s what we all want to be involved in football for – the madness of it at times. But the boys showed composure. We didn’t start the second half well and gave away a goal. But the composure we showed to get back into it was great.
“The passes before the goals were pure quality. To be calm like that is credit to the players and for Nicky Clark to bury them is fantastic.
“He has been doing that all season. It’s a really hard-fought and valuable three points. We knew if we had to do certain things we had the players to do that. We had to change it with the right personnel to keep moving forward.”
After a sleepy start Clark teed himself up for an early free-kick sighter to sting the palms of Ryan Ful ton as Uni ted established a foothold in an otherwise dreary affair.
A slick move released Liam am Smith down the right and while ile his cross found the chest off a lurking Marc McNulty, the he striker sliced his shot well wide. de.
Accies emerged from the he break with a heightened ed purpose but were almost st breached at the other end as Clark chased a delicate chip hip in behind on ly to be wel l marshal led by the e onrushing Fulton.
But they were rewarded for their adventure on 65 minutes when Scott McMann’s bril liant deep cross found Callachan sneaking in at the back post to head home.
From there, however, Accies began to sit off and 10 minutes later they were sliced open by McNulty’s incisive angled pass which allowed Smith to tee up Clark for a cool slotted finish.
The tide had well and truly turned and the visitors’ fate looked sealed when Clark brilliantly steered home a s e c ond f rom the edge of the box , thanks in no small part to a beautifully cushioned header from McNulty.
Fate conspired to offer up Accies one f inal chance of reprieve when whistler Craig Napier blew for a spot-kick but Cal lachan was left visibly crest fallen as his str ike ballooned high into the Eddie Thompson stand.
Mellon admitted he was left mystif ied by the handbal l award against Jamie Robson which so nearly denied his men maximum points.
He added: “I’ve got to be careful because I can’t go criticising referees – you know what happens.
“I don’t know what the rules are now. RobsRobson was looking at the ball and his hands were by his side. I don’tdo think he got any advantage by him gaining a set of arms. Then we end up giving away a penalty and I don’t think anyone could believe it. YoYour hard work in the week canca be undone. “But it’sit a tough job for referees,referee I understand that. II’m sure anyone who watches that tonight toni will feel we werewer hard done by.”