HAMILTON are now just eight games away from clinching only a third First Division championship in their 134-year history after this win over a resolute Morton.
Accies completed a clean sweep of four victories out of four over the Greenock side this season, though they showed some jitters in this encounter. Goals from David Graham and Tony Stevenson calmed the nerves eventually before James Gibson added a
third, but there is still a lot of football to be played before either Accies or closest rivals Dundee are crowned champions.
For Morton, they remain in the bottom three though they will have taken a lot of heart from the fact they made Accies sweat, especially in the opening 45 minutes. But for all their good work they struggled to find an end product in the penalty area. Only Kevin Finlayson's tame 24th-minute effort troubled Accies goalkeeper Tomas Cerny. The sign of prospective champions, however, is finding a goal in a game where you are struggling, and that's exactly what the league leaders did with their only real shot on target in the opening half.
Cerny's hopeful punt towards the Morton goal bounced perfectly into Graham's path and he duly dispatched the ball over David McGurn and into the net nine minutes before the break. And they could have added to their advantage prior to the break. Stevenson's wonderful curling free kick crashed off the visitors' upright before Gibson rattled a dipping volley off the top of the bar in injury time.
The second half began with the home side looking more determined and it wasn't long before they doubled their lead. Not before a close call, though, with both Graham and James McCarthy denied by Morton custodian McGurn in a matter of seconds six minutes after the restart. But the home support didn't have long to wait and moments later referee Steve Conroy pointed to the spot when hero-turned- villain McGurn pulled McCarthy down in the box. Stevenson, who was looking to make up for his set piece disappointment earlier in the match, stepped up and sent McGurn the wrong way from 12 yards.
It's been over four years since Morton's last victory here and the second Accies goal all but ended their hopes of ending that run. The exclamation mark was put on the victory when Stevenson's free kick found Simon Mensing at the back post and his header back across goal was converted by Gibson with 20 minutes left. Morton never gave up despite the now insurmountable lead Accies had, and substitute Jamie Stevenson was unlucky with a 20-yard free kick which Cerny parried well.
It would be fair to say though that the visitors had to conserve their energy late on for the crucial upcoming game against relegation rivals Clyde in midweek.
Accies on the other hand now go into their own midweek fixture against Dunfermline at East End Park five points clear of Dundee, though the Dens Park side do have a game in hand. But if the Lanarkshire men keep grinding out crucial results in these late stages of the season, the finishing line won't be far away for Billy Reid's men.
Hamilton Accies: Cerny, Parratt (Gibson 20), Easton, McCarthy, Elebert (Swailes 75), M McLaughlin, Graham, Mensing, Offiong (Waterworth 75), T Stevenson, Gilhaney.
Morton: McGurn, McGregor, S McLaughlin, Millar, Greacen, Harding, Finlayson (J Stevenson 57), McGuffie (Russell 68), Weatherston (Wake 80), Jenkins, McAllister.
Referee: S Conroy.
The full article contains 591 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
