Saints 0-0 Hamilton Accies
First Team

Saints 0-0 Hamilton Accies

30th December 2020

Saints 0-0 Hamilton Accies

Saints and Hamilton Accies played out a goalless draw at McDiarmid Park this afternoon in what was both sides final match of 2020.

It was a match that Saints dominated in possession and chances however, they were let down by their finishing in the final third.

Although Saints were almost punished for a sloppy start as Nathan Thomas waltzed into the box but Zander Clark used his right foot to save the winger’s low effort.

Saints had plenty chances throughout the first half with Callum Booth, Shaun Rooney, Jamie McCart and Chris Kane all having shots at goal whilst Stevie May was inches away from connecting with a delightful David Wotherspoon cross.

The second half was a similar story and substitute Michael O’Halloran got a golden opportunity to win the match for Saints in the final minute of the match but his sliced his shot from close range could only find the side netting.

Next up for Saints is a trip to Dingwall on Saturday to take on Ross County, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

For their last game of 2020 Saints welcomed Hamilton Accies to McDiarmid Park this afternoon. There was one change to the Saints team that started at Aberdeen on Boxing Day this afternoon as Callum Booth came into replace the injured Scott Tanser. Hamilton lost 3-0 at home to Celtic at the weekend and Head Coach Brian Rice also made one change to his team for this afternoon’s game as Charlie Trafford dropped to the bench and was replace by Nathan Thomas.

Before the match got underway there was a minute’s silence to remember legendary Dundee United manager Jim McLean who sadly passed away on Boxing Day.

Accies got the match underway at a chilly McDiarmid Park and they created the first chance of the match after 2 minutes. Nathan Thomas burst through the Saints defence and was in on goal however, Zander Clark made a great save as he used his right foot to block the shot.

After that early scare Saints got a foothold of the match and forced several corners but they were up against a well organised Accies side who cleared the danger.

On 19 minutes Callum Booth played a neat one-two with Stevie May as Booth broke into the box before having a strike at goal which took a nick off Lee Hodson to take the sting out of it as Kyle Gourlay gathered. Then 3 minutes Saints created another chance as Shaun Rooney went on a surging run, creating space for himself on the edge of the Accies box before unleashing a shot but it took a touch off an Accies defender as Gourlay gathered.

Saints were now controlling the game and on 23 minutes Booth got another sight of goal but his effort didn’t trouble Gourlay. 2 minutes later Saints were appealing for a penalty as Ali McCann went down in the box under the challenge from Hakeem Odoffin but referee David Munro wasn’t interested. Play then continued and the ball broke to Booth on the edge of the box but his effort went inches wide of the top left corner. Jamie McCart was next to have a shot at the Accies goal but he couldn’t direct his effort on target.

The one-way traffic continued and just before the half an hour mark David Wotherspoon sent over a delightful ball into the box which May was inches away from making a connection with.

Accies were awarded a free kick with 10 minutes of the first half remaining after Andrew Winter had been fouled by Wotherspoon. The free kick was sent into the Saints box and it fell nicely to Winter who had a shot on the turn which went wide. Then on 39 minutes Winter had a shot from distance that Clark comfortably gathered.

Just before half time Saints created another opportunity as McCann played the ball into the feet of Chris Kane but his shot on the turn was straight at Gourlay.

5 minutes into the second half Saints created a chance as May picked out Booth with a good ball and the wingback switched the ball onto his right before seeing his effort go wide. Shortly after Booth got another chance to give Saints the lead as he unleashed another right footed shot which took a deflection off an Accies defender and landed on the roof of the net.

The visitors were playing well on the break and on the hour mark Thomas picked up the ball in his own half and went a on quick counter attack down the left away from stand-in captain Liam Craig, who was making his 350th appearance for Saints this afternoon, and into the Saints box but luckily for Saints the Accies winger lashed his effort high and wide.

Saints continued to press forward and on 64 minutes Rooney headed wide from a Booth cross and then 4 minutes later McCann saw his effort from the edge of the box go wide of the target. Then shortly after May cur inside and had a shot at goal which again went wide.

The chances continued to come for Saints and on 71 minutes Gourlay saved a Danny McNamara shot.

Callum Davidson made his first change of the game on 75 minutes as Craig Conway came on to replace Stevie May. Accies then made a couple of changes as George Stanger and Lateef Owolabi came on to replace Brain Easton and Nathan Thomas.

Despite Saints dominating the chances Accies enjoyed a brief respite with 10 minutes remaining as Winters had a shot from distance but his effort didn’t trouble Clark as it sailed high over the goal and into the North Stand.

The chances for Saints continued to flow and on 84 minutes a McNamara cross from the right was met by Kane who glanced his header wide from 6 yards out. Saints then got another chance to break the deadlock shortly after as a cross from the right by Conway picked out Wotherspoon but his header hit the side netting.

With 4 minutes remaining Saints made a double change as Liam Craig and David Wotherspoon were replaced by Murray Davidson and Michael O’Halloran and it was the latter who would get a great chance to win it for Saints in the final minute of the match. Conway passed the ball into the feet of O’Halloran who was in on goal but he sliced his shot into the side netting.

Saints: Clark, Booth, McNamara, Rooney, Gordon, McCart, Craig (Davidson 86), McCann, May (Conway 75), Kane, Wotherspoon (O’Halloran 86)

Unused Substitutes: Parish (GK), Bryson, Melamed

Booked: None

Hamilton Accies: Gourlay, Hodson, Stirling, Martin, Easton (Stanger 76), McCann, Hamilton, Odoffin, Thomas (Owolabi 78), Moyo, Winter

Unused Substitutes: Scully (GK), Munro, Hughes, Smith, Johnson, Mimnaugh, Trafford

Booked: Hamilton, Winter

Referee: David Munro

Attendance: BCD

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Callum Booth bursts forward during the second half

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