YFS
Accies managed to get themselves back into winning ways, after a disappointing performance against Celtic last week. It was a much changed Hamilton side, and included the likes of Christian Nade, Rico Quitongo and the recent German signing Christopher Mandiangu. It was a talented Falkirk side, but Accies went ahead from a Danny Redmond strike, and Mandiangu sealed it with a goal late on.
Despite a sprightly start from the Bairns, Mandiangu made a surging run down the right hand side, and cut the ball inside for Ross Cunningham. The Accies midfielder’s shot took a slight deflection, and whistled inches past the far post. Nade then volleyed an effort from twenty five yards, but Falkirk keeper Graham Bowman saved.
Falkirk’s first effort came moment’s later, the trialist played the ball forward to Kevin O’Hara, who then played wide for Alex Cooper. He struck from wide, and Alan Martin had to make a decent save to deny the striker. Falkirk then won a free kick out on the right, David Smith crossed into the penalty area and O’Hara shot on goal, Martin saved.
Cooper sent a perfectly weighted ball through into space, Tom Grant collected and shot from six yards. Fortunately for Hamilton, Shaun Want slid in and blocked. Cooper then shot wide of the Accies goal from eighteen yards. The opener came when Mandiangu played the ball forward to Cunningham, he ran to the bye line and cut back for Redmond, who struck from eight yards, 1-0.
David Smith sent a corner kick right onto the Accies goal line, Martin got down to smother as O’Hara was about to strike. Accies broke straight up field, Marc Kelly storming into the Falkirk penalty area, cutting past a defender and shooting from eight yards. Bowman saved, but the ball rolled out to Mandiangu, he shot from eighteen yards and Bowman saved again.
O’Hara made a good run out on the left, cut inside and rounded Martin, but scuffed his shot past the post from six yards out. Mandiangu then made a run into the corner, held the ball up before passing back inside for Cunningham. He took the ball on before striking past the back post from around twenty two yards.