Hamilton Academical 0-3 Motherwell: Robert McHugh gives Accies a lesson

By William Dick
Published on 25/07/2012 02:49

ROBERT McHUGH gave Accies a lesson in the art of finishing as Motherwell took the bragging rights in a keenly contested derby encounter at New Douglas Park.

Scorers: Motherwell - McHugh (9, 43), Hately (81 pen)

It may have looked like a comfortable win for Stuart McCall’s side as they prepare for next Tuesday’s Champions League qualifier with Panathinaikos.

However, the score-line fails to paint an accurate picture after a number of fine saves from goalkeeper Darren Randolph kept the lively home side at bay.

Motherwell, who earlier in the day signed trialist Simon Ramsden on a one-year contract, took the direct approach to make the breakthrough in the ninth minute when Randolph’s long punt enabled Omar Daley to spray the ball wide for Michael Higdon to tee up McHugh for his first.

Randolph kept that lead intact with superb saves to deny Gary Fraser and Louis Longridge. But McHugh showed Accies the difference in finishing between the top flight and the second tier of Scottish football as he swooped to slot home a Shaun Hutchinson pass just inside 
the box two minutes before the interval.

A number of second half substitutes interrupted the flow of the game and a hotly-disputed Tom Hateley penalty nine minutes from time put a bit of gloss on the score-line after referee John Beaton saw an infringement inside the box.