Hamilton Accies 1 - 0 Partick Thistle: Late goal seals points for Accies

The SFL’s second Friday night football trial was a success with a healthy 2,401 crowd attending New Douglas Park to see Hamilton take on Partick Thistle in freezing temperatures, although the fans had to wait until two minutes from time to be warmed up by a goal.

The game came to life in the closing exchanges as just a minute after Greig Spence’s winner visiting skipper Alan Archibald was dismissed after a clash with Dougie Imrie in the home box that saw the Dundee United target forced to leave the pitch with blood streaming from the side of his head.

Thistle’s Paul Cairney created the game’s first opening in ten minutes when he cut in from the left and fired at goal, but his effort was cleared for a corner. Play then settled down before controversy arose midway through the first half when Simon Mensing held Kris Doolan back in the box. Referee Mike Tumilty, however, waved away penalty appeals. He similarly brushed aside home claims for a spot kick seven minutes from half-time when a Danny Redmond cross appeared to hit Darren Cole in the arm.

Jim McAlister wasted the best chance of the first half when he blasted high over after a poor kick-out from Scott Fox had landed right at his feet and Imrie did likewise three minutes into the second half when he robbed a dithering Cole and broke clear.

Thistle responded and Doolan, then David Rowson were denied in quick succession from close range by Tomas Cerny and Simon Mensing.

Fox made his first save of the evening 17 minutes from the end when he raced from his line to block substitute Spence.

Tumilty then played advantage after McAlister had been fouled, and that allowed Grant Anderson to cross and Spence to dart in and flick the ball past Fox for the winner before Archibald received a red card in the final minute.