Aberdeen 1 - 0 Hamilton: Maguire's volley sinks Accies

Published on Saturday 14 March 2009 21:21

A QUITE stunning strike after 27 minutes by young forward Chris Maguire gave Aberdeen the three points to keep their hopes of overhauling Hearts alive. This and other results means that Hamilton's chances of making the top six have dimmed, but the reputations' graveyard is full of those who have written off Billy Reid's men this season.

With a gale swirling round Pittodrie and a pitch that was hard and bumpy, it was clear from the outset that this would be a match where skilful football would be at a premium. "I would like to think it was the wind that ruined the game because the players are certainly much better than that," said Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood.

Having lost both their previous matches against Hamilton this season, the Dons were understandably wary of the threat posed by the visitors, continually closing Accies down at the first sign of attack, and not always fairly.

Referee Euan Norris was the first to make his mark on the match when he booked Tommy Wright for a clumsy challenge in the 10th minute. The home crowd felt aggrieved as Norris had not imposed a yellow card on Joel Thomas of Hamilton for a similarly ugly lunge.

Jordan McMillan and Alex Neil of Hamilton were booked later for bad tackles, while Scott Severn saw yellow for a jersey tug and Martin Canning got his card for failing to stay back 10 yards at a free kick. This was not a dirty game, however, as the ball spent too much time in the air for that.

The best early chance fell to Aberdeen after 11 minutes. Charlie Mulgrew's ability to curl inswingers with his left peg has been a useful weapon to Aberdeen, and his corner from the right was heading directly into goal until Tomas Cerny realised the danger and dived to save.

Both sides failed to keep possession for any length of time and the number of high and hopeful long balls told its own story. When they kept the ball on the ground, Aberdeen looked the more impressive, while neither James McCarthy nor James McArthur were able to play their usual fluent stuff for Hamilton.

The latter player and Canning "played despite needing operations", said their manager Reid, though he quickly added "we don't want to use that as an excuse".

Aberdeen's Jamie Smith and Sone Aluko gave several displays of their close control during the 90 minutes but ultimately to no avail. In truth this was not a day for the purist.

For the first quarter, neither side created a semblance of a chance from open play and both defences seemed to have mastered the conditions much better than the respective strike forces.

The goal after 27 minutes was thus as unexpected as it was welcome.

There seemed to be no danger when Smith tussled for the ball some 25 yards out, but the ball bobbled up high and as it came down, Maguire, who had been lurking on the edge of the penalty box D, met it on the drop with a sweet volley.

The ball fizzed low into the net past the despairing right hand of Cerny, who did well to even see it. Only a few weeks ago, 20-year-old Maguire had asked to be sent out on loan, but Calderwood refused as he felt the player had a lot to offer the Pittodrie side – how right the Tanned One was.

"The goal was fit to win any game," said Calderwood. "Chris has that ability in his locker and it was probably one of the only highlights of the game." Sadly, that was all too true.

Despite the lack of quality play there was still enough to hold the attention, especially when Aluko got the ball. Five minutes after the goal, he danced into the Hamilton box and fired in a shot which came back off Canning, and his attempt with the rebound was also blocked.

Cerny showed alertness when he raced from his goal to foil Maguire after 37 minutes. Towards the end of the half, Hamilton's Thomas, who had looked the most likely of the visitors to score, had a whiff of a chance but Severin blocked.

The second half saw Hamilton try harder – "We huffed and puffed but didn't create a lot," said Reid. They were unable to breach a solid home defence in which Zander Diamond and Lee Mair showed their developing understanding at centre back. Just before the hour mark, Martin McLaughlin appeared to haul down Wright in the box but referee Norris waved away what looked like a solid penalty claim.

Aberdeen then had the best chances, with Maguire unlucky not to double

or treble his tally. A superb cross from Jamie Smith after 69 minutes found the striker and his header looked goalbound until Cerny flung himself upwards to the ball tip over.

It was Maguire again just five minutes later, his shot this time finding the side netting.

His final attempt from distance was easily held by Cerny and Calderwood decided the man of the match had done enough, bringing him off to a deserved ovation from home fans.

Hamilton pressed late on for the equaliser but the thick red line of the Aberdeen defence held out for a win which was deserved if only for the brilliance of Maguire's goal.