William Hill League One
Balmoral Stadium
Saturday 15th November, 3PM
Aaron Lynch
FT COVE RANGERS FC 2-1 HAMILTON ACADEMICAL
After consecutive 3-0 wins at Broadwood, Hamilton looked to make it three wins on the bounce as they took on Cove Rangers at Balmoral Stadium.
John Rankin made one change to his Accies XI from our previous league fixture as Stephen Hendrie replaced the injured Tony Gallagher. As for our hosts, they opted for one change to the side that lost 1-0 to Inverness seven days ago.
KICK-OFF
Hamilton started positively and threatened to take the lead in the seventh minute as Steven Bradley’s exceptional pass in behind found Kevin O’Hara, however he couldn’t find the finish, sending his low driven shot narrowly past the post.
Cove Rangers had a huge chance of their own soon after as Megginson found space in the box but wasn’t able to guide his effort into the corner. Cove Rangers had another opportunity to go ahead in the 19th minute as the ball fell to Eguaibor but he failed to trouble Jamie Smith from close range.
Cove continued on the front foot as Eguaibor looked to break the deadlock in the 30th minute but was denied by a fantastic low diving save from Jamie Smith. In the 36th minute Cove Rangers took the lead as Eguaibor found space in the Accies six yard box and finished powerfully on the turn.
Three minutes later, Hamilton found the equaliser. Scott Robinson laid the ball off to Oli Shaw who superbly curled the ball past Robbie Mutch for his 10th goal of the season.
With halftime approaching Cove Rangers reinstated their advantage as Megginson tried his luck from distance finishing brilliantly into the far corner.
SECOND HALF
Hamilton started the second half with intensity and almost found the leveller in the 48th minute as Connor Smith found space inside the box and flicked it into the path of Oli Shaw who was agonisingly close to connecting with the ball at the backpost.
Accies had another chance moments later as Scott Robinson managed to feed Oli Shaw but from close range the Hamilton striker couldn’t find the accuracy needed to equalise. Hamilton continued to search for a way back into the game and almost found it in the 72nd minute through Steven Bradley whose ambitious effort from the edge of the box forced Robbie Mutch into an exceptional save.
A disappointing afternoon on the road saw Cove Rangers take the points.
