Hamilton Accies 1-2 Saints

Saturday 1st September

Goals from Blair Alston and David McMillan saw Saints run out comfortable winners against Hamilton Accies at The Hope CBD Stadium this afternoon.

After a very even opening to the match in which both sides had chances Saints took the lead on 37 minutes when Blair Alston bundled the ball home after David McMillan’s header had been saved.

David McMillan then made it 2-0 right on half time when he headed a deep Richard Foster cross at the back post past Accies keeper Gary Woods.

The hosts pulled a goal back on 69 minutes when Rakish Bingham lashed a low shot past Zander Clark. However, Saints were able to see the game out to secure back-to-back wins.

Today’s result sees Saints move onto 7 points and fourth place in the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership as they go into the international break.

Next up for Saints is a home game against Aberdeen on the 15th September.

MATCH REPORT

After a busy 24 hours that saw both Ross Callachan and Danny Swanson join the club on two year deals, Saints made the trip to The Hope CBD Stadium today to take on Martin Canning’s Hamilton Accies. Saints went into the game on the back of a 1-0 win against Dundee at McDiarmid Park last Saturday and Tommy Wright made one change to the team as Blair Alston came in for the injured Murray Davidson. There was also a place on the bench for new signings Tristan Nydam and Ross Callachan. Last Sunday Accies lost 1-0 to Celtic in the east end of Glasgow and Martin Canning made one change to his starting line-up this afternoon as Rakish Bingham came in for Dougie Imrie who dropped to the bench.

David McMillan got the match underway for Saints and the first chance of the game came on 7 minutes. A long ball forward by Joe Shaughnessy saw Tony Watt beat the Accies offside trap as he broke down the left before cutting in to have a shot that was well held by Gary Woods.

The hosts were awarded a free kick a minute later after a foul on Tom Taiwo by Blair Alston. The free kick was taken by Steven Boyd and his delivery into the box was met by the head of Shaun Want whose header was easily gathered by Zander Clark.

Then on 13 minutes Darian MacKinnon sent a good through ball which was latched onto by Rakish Bingham who was in on goal however, his effort was straight at Clark who saved at the second attempt.

The Saints players were appealing for a penalty on the quarter of an hour mark as it had looked like McMillan had been clipped in the box as he had a shot at goal however, referee Booby Madden waved away the appeals. Then on 18 minutes McMillan was involved in the action again this time setting up Matty Kennedy whose long-range effort didn’t trouble Woods in the home goal.

Both sides were creating chances and on 20 minutes the hosts had a penalty appeal of their own when Bingham fell to the ground as he went for Mickel Miller's cross, but referee Bobby Madden wasn't interested. Then a minute later Boyd had a strike at goal that was deflected behind for a corner which was cleared by the Saints defence.

Hamilton Accies had another penalty appeal on 27 minutes when Boyd went down in the box under the challenge from Shaughnessy however, Bobby Madden dismissed the appeals from the home side.

On 36 minutes Saints were awarded a free kick after Alston had been fouled by Scott McMann. Scott Tanser took the free kick however, his effort hit the wall. Accies tried to clear the danger but great play by Drey Wright and Tony Watt saw them win the ball back. The ball was then delivered back into the box and Kennedy hit a shot which was deflected into the path of McMillan whose effort was saved. However, Blair Alston was there to knock home the rebound to give Saints the lead.

Then on 38 minutes a good ball forward by Richard Foster picked out McMillan who chested the ball down before having a shot from 18 yards that was well held by Woods

McMillan though was not to be denied as the match entered 1 minute of additional time at the end of the first half. A Foster cross from the right found McMillan at the back post and he headed the ball across Woods and into the back of the net to double Saints lead.

Hamilton made a change before the second half could get underway as Lenny Sowah came on for Tom Taiwo.

Saints started the second half brightly and on 52 minutes Wright saw his cross into the box blocked however, the loose ball fell to Watt whose curling effort flashed across the face of the Accies goal.

On 57 minutes Alston sent a good ball forward to Watt and the striker went on a great run down the left before cutting in and having a shot which was saved by Woods.

On 62 minutes Accies made a double change as Dougie Imrie and Sam Kelly came on for Aaron McGowan and Delphin Tshiembe as they tried to find a way back into the game.

However, a minute later Saints almost grabbed a third as another good ball forward saw Watt break down the left before crossing the ball into the box picking out McMillan at the back post however, he couldn’t get his effort on target. Then on 68 minutes Alston latched onto a good Foster cross and had a shot at goal that was saved by Woods.

However, a minute later Accies pulled a goal back as Steven Boyd slipped the ball to Rakish Bingham who slotted a low shot past Clark and into the left corner of the net.

On 79 minutes Tristan Nydam came on to replace Matty Kennedy. It was the young midfielders debut after signing this week on loan from English Championship side Ipswich Town.

In the closing stages of the game substitute Chris Kane nearly made an immediate impact after replacing Watt, but he fired the ball past the right post in 83 minutes after Woods had come out to clear at the feet of Alston. Overall, a very good afternoon for Tommy Wright’s men.

Hamilton Accies: Woods, McGowan (Imrie 62), McMann, Gordon, Tshiembe (Kelly 62), Bingham, Miller, Taiwo (Sowah 45), MacKinnon, Want, Boyd

Unused Substitutes: Fulton (GK), Cunningham, Bloomfield, Penny

Booked: Bingham, McMann

Scorer: Bingham (69)

Saints: Clark, Tanser, Alston, Shaughnessy, Wright, Kerr, McMillan (Wotherspoon 75), Foster, Craig, Watt (Kane 82), Kennedy (Nydam 79)

Unused Substitutes: Mitchell (GK), Anderson, Scougall, Callachan

Booked: Clark

Scorers: Alston (37), McMillan (45)

Referee: Bobby Madden

Attendance: 1,791 (437 Saints fans)

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Blair Alston scores Saints first goal of the afternoon