YFS
Hamilton took full advantage of Celtic’s recent absence from the SPFL Development League, to take a four point lead at the top of the table. Two first half goals from Andy Ryan, playing his first game for Hamilton after a loan spell with Arbroath, proving to be the difference between the sides.
The opening quarter of an hour was poor, with both sides tentative and showing no real desire to pose a threat on goal. When the first attempt came, it was a poorly taken free kick from one of the league’s most creative players. Steven Boyd dinked the ball over the visitors wall from twenty-two yards, and softly into the arms of Jack Hamilton in the Hearts goal.
Then everything happened at once. The ball was played from the back to Tierney in midfield and he quickly played a quick one-two with Andy Ryan. He ran on goal and sent a warning shot across Hearts bow. Accies then went one up after Boyd played the ball to Ryan inside the Hearts penalty area. He then calmly hammered in from ten yards to give the home side the lead.
Ryan got his second of the evening on the half hour mark after Boyd sent the ball into the Hearts penalty area from a corner. No one cleared and Ryan fired in from six yards to double the lead.
This seemed to wake Hearts from their slumber, but it was a pity that it had taken two goals to do so. Hearts broke forward in numbers and Lewis Moore played wide to Callum Robinson who shot over the cross bar from wide. Moore wasn’t happy with his decision as he'd been expecting the ball back.
Hearts Canadian striker, Dario Zanatta made a strong run before unleashing wide of the post from twenty-two yards out. Hearts then won a free kick out wide and the ball was swung in for Zanatta to out jump the Accies defence, but he headed just inches past the post.
Hamilton immediately had the ball back up the other end of pitch. Scott McMann threaded the ball perfectly through two defenders and straight to the feet of Ryan. The Hamilton striker turned and shot from ten yards, but Jack Hamilton was able to make a good last gasp save.
As half time approached, the ball was played up field to Moore who cut the ball back from the bye line to Zanatta. He struck a thunderous shot from ten yards but was denied by a magnificent Alan Martin save that sent the ball over the cross bar. From the corner, Robbie Buchanan headed his chance over the cross bar from six yards.