McArthur's freak goal is only justice for Hamilton

Published on Wednesday 2 January 2008 21:47

Hamilton Academical1 McArthur (70) Queen of the South 0

AN ICY wind blew through New Douglas Park yesterday, chilling the bones of a saddened community but ultimately playing a benevolent role in keeping Hamilton's drive towards SPL football on course.

Queen of the South's visit threatened to end in stalemate until, 20 minutes from time, a cross from Tom Parratt, the Hamilton right-back, swirled dramatically away from Queens goalkeeper Jamie McDonald in the wind. It landed on the head of the well-positioned James McArthur before trickling over the line, sparking wild celebrations and maintaining Hamilton's remarkable home record.

In the town where Phil O'Donnell lived with his family, and where the late Motherwell captain will be laid to rest tomorrow, there had been a predictably subdued atmosphere before kick-off about the resumption of sporting business. It didn't come as a great surprise that a freakish goal should settle the contest, but Hamilton were appropriately dominant and deserved their reward.

"I think that was my first headed goal ever," said McArthur. "The management have been telling me to get forward and up for headers and I'm happy I took my chances with that one today. I'd like to dedicate the goal to Phil O'Donnell and his family."

A minute's applause was well-received and grew in poignancy when a chant of "only one Phil O'Donnell" rang up among the Queen of the South fans.

Hamilton were clumsy and lacklustre in a first half enlivened only by eye-catching efforts by David Graham and McArthur. Queens had come intent on squeezing the life out of the league leaders' game and certainly succeeded in repressing Richard Offiong.

The free-scoring striker almost produced a remarkable goal in the fourth minute, bringing down a windswept long ball and volleying towards goal with an athletic stretch, but the effort ran wide.

The lively Graham, newly signed from Gretna, was a sure-footed performer, twisting in from the left flank. One dipping shot could not have gone closer to McDonald's far post without striking it. McArthur soon tested McDonald with a gem of his own, a controlled volley that was gathered at the second attempt. Queens' attacking contribution was negligible and Robert Harris wasted their only promising attack of the half.

Accies continued to improve after the break. David Winters showed impressive knowledge of the artificial bounce after running on to David Elebert's ball and chipping Jamie McQuilken, then McDonald, who scurried back to claim. The gloveman was called to make a similar save as Graham curled one towards the top corner.

At the other end, Jim Thomson and Stevie Tosh went close but never as close as their hosts. Offiong sprinted forward with runners on either side and was fortunate when James McCarthy inherited the ball after an interception. The teenager romped into the box but couldn't get any purchase on a shot.

Reid introduced Xavier Barrau, once of Airdrie, and the newcomer broke free on the left and crossed for Graham. He laid the ball on but Offiong met the ball with his shin and when that flew high and wide, Parratt's experimental cross a couple of minutes later came as an unexpected source of delight.

They hadn't done much to deserve a point, but Queens might have snatched one back. Harris made a hash of squaring the ball from the back post as the goal yawned open and invited a shot, and substitute goalkeeper Tomas Cerny had to be alert to push Elebert's unintentional header away for a corner.

"The goal was a long time coming but teams are coming here now and sitting in, and we need to find different ways to get through," said Reid, who has signed former Airdrie striker Gary Twigg as well as Barrau and Graham.

"I hear that Dundee drew at St Johnstone but that's not a bad point for them, and there will be a lot of twists and turns before the end of the season."