St Johnstone lose away to Hamilton Accies

Apr 8 2008

A YEAR can be a long time in football. Just shy of 12 months ago, a momentous run of games saw Saints come close to a maiden appearance in the Scottish Cup final, and a season spent chasing Gretna would ultimately prove fruitless, with the last day lending an awful new meaning to the phrase “injury time”.

But on return to the scene of that last-gasp drama, all the signs pointed to a club with no lasting interest in the league campaign, and one eye on a second successive semi-final appearance at Hampden.

Kevin Cuthbert was between the sticks, while Steven Anderson's move to right back allowed Gary Irvine to play further ahead. Steven Milne shook off the effects of gastric flu to take a place on the bench, but despite being named in the line-up, Jody Morris didn't start.

The midfielder swapped places with Kevin Moon before kick-off, amid confusion which saw the official teamsheet also list a mysterious “Steven Wilson” – Milne's alter-ego for the day.

Saints started brightly but found themselves strong-armed by a determined Hamilton side, including former Saints midfielder Simon Mensing.

Cuthbert Goran Stanic, contrived to make a hash of a simple passback and despite the keeper's best efforts Hamilton forced an early corner.

Dead-ball specialist Tony Stevenson stepped up and with the Saints defence in disarray, the right-back's inswinger somehow found its way into the top corner.

And that set the tone for much of the half, with Accies making sure Saints didn't retain the ball for long.

Just before half time Anderson missed a golden chance at the other end by inches and as it turned out, that was as close as Saints were going to get all afternoon.

Saints came out for the second half showing a bit more purpose, and with the addition of Hardie – replacing McManus in a tactical switch which saw Irvine restored to defence – the visitors looked more able.

But the comfortable start to the half was shattered 10 minutes later as Saints gave away another corner and David Elebert, powered in a strong header. Stanic appeared to have rescued Saints on the line, but despite protests, the assistant referee flagged for a goal.

That led to the expected cavalry charge, with Milne and Quinn brought into the action for Saints.

Quinn had a couple of decent blasts at goal which flew high and wide, but his injury late in the half saw Saints forced to finish with 10 men.

Hamilton: Cerny, Stevenson (Gilhaney 67), Easton, Mensing, Elebert, McLaughlin, Graham (Gibson 80), McArthur, Offiong (Waterworth 58), Neil, McCarthy. Subs not used: Taylor, Potter.

St Johnstone: Cuthbert, Irvine, Stanic, Anderson, Rutkiewicz, McManus (Hardie 46), MacDonald (Milne 57), Moon (Quinn 65), Jackson, Craig, Sheerin. Subs not used: Weatherston, Main.

Referee: Dougie McDonald.