Queens undone by Gibson’s moment of madness as
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HE played every single minute of every match for Queen of the South in 2021. But Willie Gibson lasted just 21 minutes in 2022 before his appearance streak was unceremoniously halted.
It was two minutes of madness which saw the Doonhamers go from competing with Championship rivals Hamilton to merely hanging on for dear life with just 21 minutes on the clock.
First, a dubious penalty was awarded to Accies by referee Barry Cook when Ronan
Hughes went down in the area, the rebound slotted home by David Moyo. Then a straight red for dissent for Gibson shortly followed.
From that moment it was all but over for the hosts as Accies earned a comfortable victory to kick-start their New Year.
Allan Johnston made four changes to his side from the 3-0 win over Ayr in the final fixture of 2021 with Josh Rae, Alex Cooper, Ally Roy and Ruben Junior coming in.
For Hamilton it was a first start for Daniel O’Reilly after signing from Drogheda United as Marley Redfern was also brought back into the side.
It was a competitive Championship battle from the first
whistle, which was to be expected in a clash between the hosts sitting eighth in the table and Accies two places higher and hoping to push for a promotion place.
It was the hosts who had the first proper sight of goal with 12 minutes on the clock. Junior controlled the ball well in the final third of the pitch at Palmerston Park before sending through Josh Todd who was bursting forward from midfield. The playmaker gathered the ball in the box but could not get past on-rushing Accies goalkeeper Joe Hilton.
With the next chance the match turned in Hamilton’s favour as the Doonhamers were left a goal and a man down.
Whistler Cook earned himself the wrath of the 197 home supporters when he pointed straight to the spot as Accies winger Hughes flopped to the ground after a minor collision with Roberto Nditi. It was a soft award with 19 minutes played and left the Queens players furious.
Their feelings were only worsened when Josh Mullin’s spotkick was saved by Rae, only to be powered home seconds later with Moyo quickest to react to finish the re-bound.
The hosts were already facing an uphill task to come back, but it became even harder when Gibson was shown a booking before being flashed a straight red which appeared to be for something he said to Cook.
Three minutes later, Accies could have been two up but for the linesman’s flag after Matthew Shiels fired home from a Lewis Smith cross which was ruled out for a marginal offside.
Moyo had a chance for a second seven minutes from the break when he was played in by Smith but a Josh Debayo lastgasp challenge saved a certain goal.
Hamilton’s Mullin hit the inside of the post seven minutes after the interval as
Accies upped the intensity before Moyo struck the same part of the goal frame with an overhead kick minutes later.
Undeterred, Accies maintained their pressure and the visitors got their reward on 69 minutes when Hughes’ skilful back-heel allowed 19-year-old central defender Jamie Hamilton to burst into the box and blast the ball into the roof of the net.
Stuart Taylor’s men finished with a flourish as Hamilton in sixth opened up a five-point gap to Ayr in seventh.
Hughes, Moyo and Shiels combined it carve apart the Queens’ defence in a sensational team move with Mullin adding the finishing touch.