Match Report

Hamilton hauled themselves up into eighth spot in the SPL with a fine home win over Kilmarnock.

The only blot on the New Douglas Park side's day came with the award of a controversial last-minute penalty to Kilmarnock after defender Brian Easton was alleged to have handled at a corner, and Jamie Hamill made no mistake from the spot.

By that point two moments of magic from James McCarthy had pulled Hamilton ahead of their drop rivals.

The result was probably just about deserved, but Hamilton have played better and lost this season.

For their part, Kilmarnock played well and passed the ball around nicely, but their final-third play was disappointing. It's hard to think of a moment when Accies keeper Tomas Cerny was called into serious action.

That said, Alan Combe's work was pretty much reduced to picking the ball out of his net twice, and he wasn't at fault on either occasion.

Hamilton went into the game with several key players returning to the fold, and it showed. Striker Richard Offiong was a constant thorn in Kilmarnock's side and the midfield looked more solid.

Kilmarnock were without Manuel Pascali and Kevin Kyle, and that showed too as they simply had no bite up front.

Accies opened the scoring after five minutes when Offiong found Simon Mensing in the box, and his diagonal pass to the left flank released McCarthy, who side-stepped David Lilley and Simon Ford before drilling low into the bottom right corner, via the post.

In the 16th minute Easton's cross from the left was headed across goal by Mensing for Offiong, but Combe gathered under pressure from the English striker.

Hamilton went close again in the 32nd minute when Easton drove down the left before picking out Paul McGowan with a low pass, but the winger sent his shot inches past the near post.

Kilmarnock could have pulled a goal back three minutes later when Willie Gibson picked out Hamill, but his flick was saved at the near post by Cerny.

Ten minutes into the second half Hamilton effectively secured the points when Offiong darted down the right and sent over a delightful cross for McCarthy to meet with a controlled volley that deceived Combe and crashed in at the bottom right corner.

Offiong then contributed a spot of fine defending, clearing off the line after Mehdi Taouil's corner from the left was met with a powerful header.

Offing could have increased Hamilton's lead with 20 minutes left when he collected an Easton pass fully 35 yards out and took it past two Kilmarnock players before driving the ball inches past the left post.

But Kilmarnock were handed a lifeline in stoppage time when Taouil's corner from the left struck Easton's arm and referee Mike Tumilty pointed to the spot, with Hamill sending Cerny the wrong way.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides