Match Report

Saturday, 16th December, 2023

by Paul Thomson

Bairns knock Accies off top spot to take initiative in League One title race

John Rankin's men were second best as the top two clashed at New Douglas Park

Hamilton Accies were knocked off the League One summit by title rivals Falkirk after an entertaining top of the table clash.

Three goals in nine minutes midway through the first half had the visitors 2-1 in front at the break, with Lewis Smith netting a fine lob for Accies either side of a Callumn Morrison penalty and a Calvin Miller screamer.

And the Bairns made sure of the victory 11 minutes from time when Morrison pounced on Kyle MacDonald's slip to slot home his second of the day, and make it 21 games unbeaten in all competitions for John McGlynn's men.

It is only Accies' second defeat of the league campaign and leaves John Rankin's side three points adrift of the Bairns, having played a game more.

Accies named the same team that drew 0-0 at Alloa last week. Lee Kilday was in the line-up but he pulled out just before kick-off, enabling Stephen Hendrie to retain his place at the back.

It was always going to be a tasty tussle between the top two and, four minutes in, an early meaty challenge set the tone when Falkirk's Tom Lang and Accies skipper Scott Martin both lunged in for a loose ball in the middle of the park. Martin came off worse and referee Calum Scott reached for an early yellow card for the Bairns defender, after Accies players surrounded the whistler demanding action.

The Bairns started brightly and created the first big chance in the ninth minute when Calvin Miller broke down the left, putting in a tantalising ball to the front post for Aidan Nesbitt. The Falkirk striker poked it towards goal first-time, forcing Ryan Fulton into a fine instinctive save to tip it behind.

Down the other end, Reghan Tumilty's strike on the angle brought Nicky Hogarth into action for the first time in the game a few minutes later, but it was a comfortable save for the Bairns No.1.

In 23 minutes the Bairns made the breakthrough. Jackson Longridge was penalised for a handball in the box after the ball was blasted at him from close range, just after claims for a foul on Dario Zanatta as he tried to clear. Morrison stepped up to take the spot-kick and although Ryan Fulton guessed the right way, the ball snuck past him into the bottom corner to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.

Accies suffered another blow two minutes later when Martin hobbled off injured, to be replaced by Dylan Tait.

But within five minutes of falling behind, Accies were level. Hogarth couldn't do enough to palm away a long ball that Kevin O'Hara contested on the edge of the box and when the ball fell kindly to Lewis Smith, he kept his cool to produce an exquisite lob that nestled in the back of the net for 1-1.

The Accies fans had barely finished celebrating when the visitors regained the lead in stunning fashion. Miller collected the ball in the middle of the park from Nesbitt's pass and rifled the ball into the top corner from distance in the 32nd minute, giving the visitors the lead at half-time.

John Rankin was forced into a change in goal at the break, as Ryan Fulton failed to shake off a knock and was replaced by Jamie Smith between the sticks.

Accies started the second half strongly and twice forced Hogarth into action in the first two minutes if the half, with a Jamie Barjonas strike from distance being palmed away before Dario Zanatta cut inside and saw and curling effort battered away.

The Falkirk fans thought they were cheering a third goal for their side in 54 minutes when Coll Donaldson tapped home at the back post but he was flagged for offside.

Rankin turned to his bench on the hour mark to try and find the spark needed to get back into the game, as Barjonas and Zanatta made way for Mikey Hewitt and Euan Henderson.

And Henderson came close to an equaliser seven minutes later when his curling free-kick from 25-yards required a fine save from Hogarth to keep it out.

Accies kept plugging away and Falkirk breathed a sigh of relief in the 76th minute when Hogarth spilled a cross at the near post and there were no takers in an Accies jersey.

As the clock ticked down, Morrison took advantage of a slip at the back from Kyle MacDonald and he gratefully honed in on goal, before slotting the ball past a helpless Jamie Smith.

Dylan McGowan almost grabbed what would have been a consolation in the 87th minute but he saw his header at the back post cleared off the line and Falkirk left South Lanarkshire with the spoils.

Accies are back in league action next Saturday when they welcome high-flying Kelty Hearts to New Douglas Park in their final match before Christmas.

HAMILTON: Fulton (J Smith 46), Tumilty, Longridge, McGowan, Hendrie (Mumbongo 73), Martin (Tait 25), Barjonas (Henderson 60), L Smith, MacDonald, O'Hara, Zanatta (Hewitt 60).

Scorers: L Smith 28

Bookings: McGowan, L Smith

Subs not used: Murray, McGlynn, Newbury, Winter,

FALKIRK: Hogarth, McCann, Lang, Donaldson, Yeats, Henderson (Ross 73), Miller (Agyeman 82), Spencer, Nesbitt, Morrison (Oliver 82), MacIver (Allan 84).

Scorers: Morrison 23 (pen), 79, Miller 32

Bookings: Lang, Spencer, Yeats, McCann

Subs not used: Long, McKay, Bisland, Mackie, McGinn.

HT: 1-2

Ref: Calum Scott

Att: 3,821