Hamilton Academical 0 Clyde 1

Last updated : 15 January 2005 By Footymad Previewer

There was plenty to play for when Clyde visited Hamilton, the visitors desperately trying to keep in touch with league leaders Falkirk. The Accies, meanwhile, were fighting to preserve a gap between themselves and Partick Thistle in ninth place.

But despite these incentives, this was a dull affair with few chances created and both sides resorting to long-range efforts.

Appropriately enough, the game was settled by a freak goal when Clyde's Gary Arbuckle launched a cross-cum-shot which the Accies keeper David McEwan simply watched as it floated into the net.

Clyde just about deserved the win, and were well served by Alex Burns, making his first league appearance for the club. Playing behind the strikers, Burns was involved in all of Clyde's best moves and was unlucky not to score, having seen three long- range free-kicks saved.

For the Accies, in an otherwise poor performance, Brian McPhee and Mark Corcoran at least showed some endeavour.

But Corcoran was guilty of wasting chances, not least when he fired straight at Bryn Halliwell in the Clyde goal with only the keeper to beat.

This was a forgettable match and one which must surely cause Accies' fans some concern.

For Clyde, however, the victory will almost certainly be insufficient to improve their promotion prospects but is welcome nonetheless.