Winter delivers chills and thrills in Accies comeback
STUART TAYLOR hailed spirited Hamilton Accies for having the guts to pull off a dramatic comeback in Inverness.
Accies trailed to Cameron Harper’s opener midway through the second half, but their stirring response crystallised in two goals in four minutes from David Moyo and fit-again teenager Andy Winter – just back from a 10-month absence.
The shock victory knocked Billy Dodds’ side off top spot on goal difference on a day they could have surged three points clear.
It also breathed fresh life into Accies’ hopes of rejoining the leading pack.
Delighted Taylor said: “One thing we’ve spoken about since I came in as manager was having the right reactions when something disappointing happens in the game.
“That’s what we did after their goal. “Inverness started the second half better and got their goal. Our reaction to that goal was excellent.
“I’m just looking for progression. We’re getting there.”
The hosts held exactly double the points of Hamilton approaching the match, but they had lost three to them back in October.
The home side’s movement and possession was better early on, but Hamilton produced a couple of decent chances inside the first 15 minutes.
David Moyo, square on goal, snapped in an early effort but home right-back David Carson made a fantastic diving block.
Andy Ryan then evaded Allardice and cracked in a terrific left-foot attempt from 25 yards, but home keeper Mark Ridgers was sharp across to control it.
The hosts won two corners early in the second half and then saw Reece Mcalear send a glancing header just wide from Carson’s curled cross.
Shane Sutherland also hammered a header straight into Hilton’s arms as home pressure built.
A terrific move on the hour saw Billy Mckay thunder forward, before Harper’s cross was whisked over Hilton by Sutherland’s touch, only to trickle beyond the far post.
The breakthrough finally came in the 65th minute. It was Sutherland’s turn to burst forward and, driving at Accies, he slipped a lovely through pass to Mckay on the right of the box.
Mckay whipped it across the six-yard box and Harper sprinted in to hit the net with a low first-time finish.
After the restart, Accies created four corners with a heavy spell of pressure leading up to a dramatic shift in fortunes after David Moyo’s 78th-minute equaliser.
Reegan Mimnaugh’s fine cross picked out the big striker for a smashed header past Ridgers.
The setback became a collapse after 82 minutes as Josh Mullin’s left-side corner picked out substitute Andy Winter for a superbly-executed frontpost header.
Caley Thistle manager Billy Dodds said: “I’m still feeling a wee bit in shock, to be honest.
“It was a sore defeat because I felt we brought so much to the game.
“I knew they would be energetic, they have young lads, and they matched us, but we scored a great goal and had another couple of chances.
“We were very unlucky not to take something from the game.”