PART TWO – JANUARY TO MAY 2008
January 2008
A month which saw one of the most extra ordinary games in Accies history.
Accies opened 2008 without Simon Mensing with his loan expired although he sat in the stand alongside new signing Gary Twigg. Fellow new recruit Xavier Barrau was on the bench. James McArthur headed home the only goal of the game to give Accies a 1-0 win over a stuffy Queen of the South.
This extended Accies lead to three points as Dundee could only draw 1-1 at St Johnstone.
Accies were going through a bit of a dry spell in front of goal with Richard Offoing picking up an injury in the warm up , his place was taken by Gary Twigg. Stirling Albion who were bottom of the table were delighted to leave with a point from a game which was hugely disappointing for Accies ending in a goalless draw. Dundee also had the same 0-0 scoreline at home to Dunfermline , so Accies three point lead stayed in place although it should have been extended.
Accies problems in front of goal continued with a 0-0 Scottish Cup home draw with Brechin.
A trip to Firhill and Accies were thumped 3-0 by Partick Thsitle. as they took advantage of Tom Parratt’s lack of height.
Dundee also hit a bump in the road with their third consecutive draw when they scored a last minute equaliser away to Clyde through Milan Palenik, however this reduced Accies lead to two points.
Dundee signed two forwards Colin McMenamin and Mickael Antoine- Curier.
Accies travelled to Clyde on an afternoon which would go a long way to deciding the destination of the League Title.
Hamilton got off to a poor start when Clyde’s Gary Arbuckle scored after a defensive mistake by Accies after 3mins.
Clyde’s Dougie Imrie scored a terrific free kick to the give the home side a shock 2-0 early lead. Colin McMenamin gave Dundee a 1-0 lead at Dens Park to effectively put them top of the league.
Accies sent on flu stricken substitute James McArthur after 35mins and he set up Richard Offiong to pull a goal back before half time.
Simon Mensing drew Accies level at 2-2 while at Dens Park , Queen of the South brought their game with Dundee level.
Accies fans were delighted to here news of Queens taking a 3-1 lead as Richard Offiong put Accies 3-2 ahead.
Late drama followed with Colin McMenamin pulling a late goal back for Dundee but they lost 3-2.
Accies survived a late scare when Clyde were awarded an injury time penalty but it was saved by Accies keeper Bryn Halliwell.
This would move Accies from being potentially one point behind Dundee at half time to five points ahead in 45mins of football.
In the end Accies left Broadwood with a five point lead before Monday’s Scottish Cup Replay at Brechin.
Accies lost 2-1 at Brechin but after an appeal Brechin were removed from the Scottish Cup after the clubs were initially ordered to replay the game, for fielding two ineligible players, as January ended in crazy circumstances.
February 2008
Accies travelled to Pittodrie and were unfortune to exit the Scottish Cup 1-0.
Accies returned to New Douglas Park and produced an impressive performance against Dunfermline Athletic. Richard Offiong scored a first half kat trick as Accies won 3-0. Once again the striker gave Sol Bamba a tough afternoon.
Dundee’s 1-1 draw at Livingston increased Accies lead to seven points.
Accies then faced the tricky trip to McDiarmid Park to face St Johnstone.
Mark Gilhaney gave Accies a first half lead but St Johnstone bounced back with two second goals to defeat Accies 2-1.
Dundee’s home 2-0 won over Morton cut Accies lead to four points with Accies still to travel to Dens Park on the final day , many including BBC Radio Scotland’s reporter at Dens Park saw this is a major turning point in the title race in favour of the Dark Blues.
This no doubt inspired Dundee to beat Strling Albion 6-1 at Forthbank however Accies held their nerve and produced a strong performance to beat Livingston 3-1 at home to maintain the four point lead. This was the second time in the season Livingston scored at New Douglas Park where Accies ended with an incredible gaols against of only three goals conceded at home all season in the league. Dunfermline were on the opening day were the team team other then Livingston to breach the home Accies defence.
March 2008
Accies opened March with new signing James Grady starting and Andy Waterworth on the bench , as Billy Reid tried to improve his attacking options for the run-in as they faced Queen of the South at Palmerston.
Dundee faced a tricky match at home to third place St Johnstone.
James Grady opened the scoring for Accies after 21mins but the home side quickly fought back and two goals Stephen Dobbie gave the Doonhamers a 2-1 half time lead,
Dundee took the lead at Dens Park shortly before half time as Curier netted.
The news from Dens Park improved during the second half when Jody Morris equalised for the Perth Saints before McMenamin restored Dundee’s lead.
The Accies fans were then given more hope when Andy Jackson made it 2-2 at Dens Park.
Accies also made it 2-2 at Palmerston when James McCarthy netted in 89mins to give Accies a share of the points.
A late Colin McMenamin goal at Dens Park gave Dundee a 3-2 win and cut Accies lead to two points.
Accies returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 3-0 home win over Morton where David Graham scored his first home goal before Tony Stevenson converted from the penalty spot in the second half. The scoring was rounded off by substitute James Gibson.
Accies lead was extended to five points but Dundee had a game in hand as they were playing in the Scottish Cup. Dundee lost 2-0 at Palmerston and were knocked out the Scottish Cup.
Accies went to Dunfermline in midweek and drew 1-1 , while Dundee beat Livingston 2-0 with Curier scoring a double reducing Accies lead to three points but having played a game more.
This set up Accies v Dundee at New Douglas Park as probably the most crucial game of the season.
A record crowd of 5,078 saw Accies the better team and took the lead on 18mins when a Tony Stevenson free kick was headed on by Alex Neil. The Dundee goalkeeper Craig Samson produced a great save but the ball fell to James McArthur to score. Accies goalkeeper Tomas Cerny was caught late by Colin McMenamin and in the ensuing melee , Mickael Antoine Curier was booked. Accies were helped when he picked up a second yellow card early in the second half. Accies held out for the 1-0 win to go six points clear having played one more game.
James McCarthy scored an early goal in a 1-0 win against Stirling at Forthbank where future England International Jay Rodriguez started for the home side on loan from Burnley.
Dundee also won 1-0 at Dunfermline to keep the gap unchanged at the top.
Accies ended the month with a frustrating 0-0 home draw with Partick Thistle. Partick goalkeeper Johnny Tuffey was in superb form to stop Accies from scoring.
Dundee beat Clyde 2-0 at Dens Park to reduce Accies lead four points ahead of their game in hand against Partick Thistle at Firhill.
April 2008
The league table going into April showed
Accies P 32 Pts 66
Dundee P 31 Pts 62
Dundee were still due to play Accies at home on the final day so their game in hand at Firhill was crucial for the destiny of the league title.
I was in the crowd at Firhill as was Accies manager Billy Reid and his Assistant Stuart Taylor.
Dundee opened strongly in the first 45mins with Derek Lyle who had signed a pre contract agreement to join Accies in the summer prominent for Dundee.
Partick Thistle were awarded a penalty in the second half but their joy was short lived as the referee changed his mind.
Dundee looked to have dropped two point in their efforts to claw back Accies lead but worse was to follow for the Dark Blues when Partick’s Mark Roberts scored after 88mins to win 1-0 and Accies stayed four points ahead with four games to play.
This meant if Accies won their next three games they would be Champions before they arrived in Dundee in the final day.
Accies beat St Johnstone 2-0 at New Douglas Park with Tony Stevenson scoring direct from a corner and David Elebert heading from from another of his corners.
Dundee maintained their challenge winning 2-1 away to Morton but their was nothing they could do if Accies won their next two games.
Accies took a massive travelling support to Almodvale as Accies produced one of the best performances of the season to beat Livingston 3-1.
Richard Offiong gave Accies an early lead and went into half time 2-0 ahead when James McArthur scored an excellent team goal. Simon Mensing scored at the start of the second half and seal the victory before Livingston scored a late penalty.
Dundee kept up the chase four points behind with two games remaining when they beat Striling Albion 3-0.
Hamilton Accies clinched the First Division Championship in front of 4,940 fans when they beat Clyde 2-0 with Tony Stevenson netting from the penalty spot before Richard Offiong capped a fine season scoring a second before half time. Dundee lost 1-0 against Queen of the South.
The final day saw Dundee play a young Accies team where Andy Waterworth;s goal was cancelled out in the final minute by Colin McMenamin,
Accies gave a debut to Grant Gillespie and Gary Gow.
Football is Academical 