St Mirren 0-1 Hamilton Academical: Saints stay in top flight despite loss

St Mirren 0

Hamilton Academical 1

Mensing 28

AT THE end of this disappointing and nervy match, the St Mirren players were cheered off the pitch man by man while the Hamilton players threw their shirts to their fans. It was end-of-term stuff with a late twist provided from the far north.

Hamilton retained their SPL status last weekend, and relegation for St Mirren was only ever a mathematical possibility, hence a match which rarely raised the emotions – until Falkirk scored in Inverness, that is.

Had Joel Thomas converted a gilt-edged chance midway through the second half, St Mirren would have been a goal away from relegation, though manager Gus McPherson was adamant he and the players did not know what was going on elsewhere.

In the end, St Mirren stayed in the SPL by just two goals. Such is the margin between survival and disaster. "It was frustrating after our performance against Falkirk last week," said McPherson.

Playing against the wind, Saints had an early chance when Scott Cuthbert and Will Haining both failed to connect with a curling Andy Dorman free kick. At the other end, James McCarthy's delightful flick found James McArthur, but his shot was straight at Mark Howard.

Garry Brady was already showing that he was going to be instrumental to the home side's chances, and his tenth-minute cross caused panic in the visitors' defence before landing on top of Sean Murdoch's goal.

Three minutes later, David Barron sent in a 25-yard bender that flew just over, before Dorman fired in a low shot from the same distance that fizzed by Murdoch's left upright.

The 6,747 crowd contained just 368 Hamilton supporters but they made plenty of noise, especially when McArthur fired in a free kick from out on the left which knifed through his own attackers and the home defence for Howard to grasp.

With 28 minutes gone, St Mirren won a corner on the right and it was time for Brian Easton's party trick. As he has been doing to effect all season, the left-back sent in a curling left-footed cross which held up in the wind just long enough for Simon Mensing to rise and head powerfully down through a posse of defenders on the goal line. "The heads went down," admitted McPherson.

Hamilton continued to trouble the St Mirren defence without creating chances, while the Paisley side tried but failed to penetrate into the final third, while the main feature at this point was some vintage slide-tackling on the wet surface.

The ever-alert Brady was unlucky with a fine half-volley that went just wide after 42 minutes, and the same player then got in behind the Hamilton defence only to send his volley wide.

The game by now was largely a midfield battle, with neither side able to dominate.

Saints managed to up things a gear or two and in 71 minutes, and only a superb save from Murdoch prevented the equaliser. Dorman crossed from the right to Billy Mehmet lurking at the back post, and his volley was-net bound until Murdoch leapt acrobatically to tip the ball over.

Try as they might, St Mirren could not create the chances to score, and Hamilton held on for the win.

They have become the first lot of Accies to stay in the SPL for a second season and manager Billy Reid said: "I am not surprised we have made a bit of history, as they are a great bunch of players."

MAN OF THE MATCH

It's unusual to give the award to someone who gets substituted, but Garry Brady's 82 minutes on the pitch saw him make a tireless and inventive contribution on a day when quality play was not much in evidence.

QUICK FACT

In league terms, the neat St Mirren stadium in the Greenhill area of Paisley is proving luckless for the Buddies. They are now eight SPL home matches without a win since moving from Love Street.

TALKING POINT

Can ninth-placed Hamilton keep James McCarthy? He said: "I am happy at this club, but we will see what happens"