Raith Rovers 0 - 2 Hamilton Accies

By DARREN JOHNSTONE
Published on 20/01/2013 00:00

Brian Graham once again showed he is lethal in the penalty box, but unfortunately for Raith Rovers it was the free-scoring striker’s own goal that set Hamilton on their way to collecting all the spoils.

SCORERS:

Hamilton Accies - Graham 89og; May 90

The forward – with a tally of 20 at the right end this season – glanced in Ali Crawford’s corner in the 89th minute, with the visitors making the most of their numerical advantage following Dougie Hill’s dismissal.

Stevie May added the gloss with a second deep into injury time with a forceful free-kick as Accies racked up a fourth win from a unbeaten five-match stretch.

Hill was red-carded for the third time this season in the 83rd minute for a crunching tackle on Hamilton substitute Darian Mackinnon that had Accies manager Billy Reid bouncing on to the pitch in protest.

“In this day and age going in with two feet if you’re slightly off the ground – you’re getting a red card, so I’ve no qualms about that,” said Rovers player/manager Grant Murray.

Hamilton – with a dynamic five-man midfield – dominated the opening period with some easy-on-the-eye football, but lacked invention in the final third.

Rovers had a spring in their step after the interval, but Allan Walker made and missed their best chance when his penalty was brilliantly saved by Accies keeper Kevin Cuthbert.

The turning point came right at the end when Hill jumped into a tackle on MacKinnon that left Rovers’ defensive line irreparably weakened.

“I’m not going to say too much about the sending off, but it was a red card as far as I’m concerned,” said Reid.