2008-11-16: Hamilton 1-2 Celtic, SPL

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Trivia

  • Penalty by Naka, good to finally score after whole loads of misses this season.

Review

Poor game, saw us coming from behind to win 2-1 against the poorest side in the league. Disappointing.

Teams

Hamilton:-
Cerny, McClenahan, Swailes (Thomas 90), Canning, Easton, McCarthy, Neil (Elebert 76), McArthur, McLaughlin, Mensing, Offiong (Graham 82).
Subs Not Used:- Murdoch, Gibson, Stevenson, Lyle.
Goal:- Offiong 16.
Sent Off- Canning (38).
Booked:- McArthur.

Celtic:-
Mark Brown, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson (Robson 46), Nakamura (Samaras 64), Scott Brown, Donati (Caddis 71), Hartley, Maloney, Sheridan.
Subs Not Used:- Fox, Loovens, Mizuno, McGowan.
Goals: Nakamura 39 pen, Hartley 86.

Att- 5,550
Ref- S Conroy.

Articles

Pictures

KStreet

Stats

HAMILTON CELTIC
Possession

52% 48%

Shots on target

3 11

Shots off target

3 5

Corners

4 9

Fouls

9 7

Articles

Hamilton Accies 1-2 Celtic
By David McDaid

BBC

Paul Hartley scored a late winner against his former club, as Celtic maintained their four-point lead in the SPL against 10-man Hamilton.

The home side shocked Celtic by taking the lead with a wonderful header from striker Richard Offiong on 16 minutes.

Shunsuke Nakamura levelled from a penalty despite Martin Canning fouling Cillian Sheridan outside the box.

Canning was sent off as a result, and Celtic's advantage told as Hartley won it with a crisp strike late on.

The result was harsh on Hamilton, not least because of the dubious penalty award, but also because their overall play merited at least a point.

Celtic made a bright start and within a few minutes, Sheridan, starting for the eighth game in a row, tested Accies goalkeeper Tomas Cerny's concentration with a surprise shot from an angle, which the Czech smothered.

But, after the opening salvos, Hamilton began to pass the ball well, and Offiong drove in a shot from 18 yards, which Mark Brown was glad to see go over the bar.

And just as they did against Rangers, so Accies rattled the SPL champions in the 16th minute.

Trent McClenahan whipped in a low cross from the right, and Offiong stooped in front of Gary Caldwell to power a wonderful diving header past Brown, sparking euphoric scenes on the Accies bench.

Celtic struggled to make inroads, and Hamilton threatened twice from corners.

Brown had to look sharp in quick succession to palm another Offiong header over, and punch clear Alex Neill's vicious delivery.

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The visiting centre-backs, Caldwell and Stephen McManus, were struggling to cope with the pace and power of Offiong.

But with 37 minutes on the clock, Celtic pulled a goal back through Nakamura from the penalty spot.

However, Accies may well feel aggrieved, as Canning's trip on Sheridan appeared to have taken place just outside the box.

But the Celtic striker's momentum carried him in to the area and referee Steve Conroy pointed to the spot and dismissed Canning, who was the last man.

Tempers frayed in the second half when Celtic kept the ball in play as Offiong lay prone with a head knock, and Massimo Donati and Neill had to be held apart.

Celtic introduced Georgios Samaras up front in place of Nakamura with just over an hour gone, as they pressed for a winner.

And with 16 minutes remaining, Cerny dived bravely to turn away Scott Brown's close-range effort for a corner.

The Accies 'keeper then thought he had saved a point for his team when he dived low to push away Samaras' diving header.

But with four minutes to go, Cerny's weak punch eventually fell to Hartley, who hammered an unstoppable shot into the net from the edge of the box.

Hamilton manager Billy Reid:

"Once again, match officials have let us down badly.

"There's a tug, it's well outside the box. The assistant referee has got involved. If he's going to do that, then he's got to get it right. And he's called it wrong.

"That was the turning point in the game. Up until that, we were the better side. We passed the ball better and we were in Celtic's faces.

"Offiong was causing problems for McManus and Caldwell and we were the team in the ascendancy. We're a young team and this is our first season in the SPL for 20 years – but we're learning and we'll bounce back."

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan:

"Hamilton were well-organised in the first half, passed the ball well and we didn't have enough in our locker today to do anything about it for long periods.

"Football has shown that you do get breaks for and against you. I don't think we've moaned about referees for a long, long time. And we're not going to start now.

"Barry Robson did exactly what we needed today. We felt we needed some width and that's why we brought Paul Caddis. There's more to come from him.

"Hartley scored a terrific goal. We're fortunate that we've got one or two players who can do exceptional things at the right moment.

"I know we were fortunate today."

Hamilton: Cerny, McClenahan, Swailes (Thomas 90), Canning, Easton, McCarthy, Neil (Elebert 76), McArthur, McLaughlin, Mensing, Offiong (Graham 82). Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Gibson, Stevenson, Lyle.

Sent Off: Canning (38).

Booked: McArthur.

Goals: Offiong 16.

Celtic: Mark Brown, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson (Robson 46), Nakamura (Samaras 64), Scott Brown, Donati (Caddis 71), Hartley, Maloney, Sheridan. Subs Not Used: Fox, Loovens, Mizuno, McGowan.

Goals: Nakamura 39 pen, Hartley 86.

Att: 5,550

Ref: S Conroy.

Hamilton manager Billy Reid:

"Once again, match officials have let us down badly. "There's a tug, it's well outside the box. The assistant referee has got involved. If he's going to do that, then he's got to get it right. And he's called it wrong. "That was the turning point in the game. Up until that, we were the better side. We passed the ball better and we were in Celtic's faces. "Offiong was causing problems for McManus and Caldwell and we were the team in the ascendancy. We're a young team and this is our first season in the SPL for 20 years – but we're learning and we'll bounce back."


Celtic manager Gordon Strachan:

"Hamilton were well-organised in the first half, passed the ball well and we didn't have enough in our locker today to do anything about it for long periods. "Football has shown that you do get breaks for and against you. I don't think we've moaned about referees for a long, long time. And we're not going to start now. "Barry Robson did exactly what we needed today. We felt we needed some width and that's why we brought Paul Caddis. There's more to come from him. "Hartley scored a terrific goal. We're fortunate that we've got one or two players who can do exceptional things at the right moment. "I know we were fortunate today." _

Celtic snatch win with late Hartley strike

16 November 2008

Provided by: Irish examiner

Hamilton 1 Celtic 2
A late winner from Paul Hartley allowed Celtic to snatch victory against Hamilton to restore their four-point lead at the summit of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
Hamilton 1 Celtic 2
A late winner from Paul Hartley saw Celtic snatch victory against Hamilton to restore their four-point lead at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
But questions will once again be asked of the match officials after a dubious penalty decision allowed Shunsuke Nakamura to cancel out Richard Offiong’s opener for the home side.
It was a crushing blow to an Accies side who remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
Scott McDonald was absent for the visit to New Douglas Park through illness and his place was filled by Hartley.
Hamilton made two changes for the visit of the league leaders, with Chris Swailes and Offiong replacing David Graham and the injured Lucas Akins.
Celtic carved out the first chance of the game when Cillian Sheridan’s left-footed shot was blocked at the near post by goalkeeper Tomas Cerny.
But Hamilton quickly created a decent chance of their own when James McArthur set up Offiong for a shot from the edge of the box which dipped just over the crossbar.
The Scottish champions failed to heed the warning and the home side took a shock lead with 15 minutes gone.
Trent McClenahan was the provider as Offiong threw himself in front of the cross to send a diving header into the net.
Hamilton could have doubled their advantage when Brian Easton whipped a teasing corner into the packed goalmouth and Offiong rose to connect with a header a few yards out which was tipped just over by Brown.
At the other end, Cerny was forced into a decent block when he turned a well-struck effort from Andreas Hinkel past the upright as Celtic pressed for an equaliser before the break.
They were back on level terms after 39 minutes when referee Steve Conroy pointed to the spot after Sheridan was fouled by Martin Canning, although the challenge appeared to take place just outside the box.
Canning was sent off and Nakamura stepped up to convert from 12 yards and haul Celtic back into the game.
Celtic took advantage of the break to make their first change, with Mark Wilson replaced by Barry Robson.
They had a couple of half chances after the restart when Scott Brown screwed wide of the target and Stephen McManus’ header was blocked at a corner.
Another corner saw Gary Caldwell connect with Hartley’s inswinger only to nod just over.
Georgios Samaras was then thrown into the action in place of Nakamura with just over an hour gone, as Celtic chased a winner.
Samaras tried his luck with a flick in front of goal after being set up by Brown but his effort deflected into the arms of Cerny.
Paul Caddis replaced Massimo Donati and he started the move which resulted in Brown finding himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but Cerny pulled off an excellent block to deny the Hoops midfielder from six yards.
With time running out, it was Accies who could have snatched the winner when Offiong embarked on a good run but let himself down with a poor final shot which did little to trouble Brown.
Cerny then produced a superb one-handed save to prevent a low header from Samaras crossing the line.
Just when Hamilton must have thought they were set to earn a share of the points, Hartley claimed the winner with a powerful half-volley from 16 yards with just four minutes to go.
© Irish Examiner, 2008. Thomas Crosbie Media, TCH
The Irish Examiner