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.

A few minutes into the second half and Smith made a decent run through the centre of the pitch, he struck from twenty five yards, and Martin had to be at his best to make a spectacular diving save. Hughes sent the ball forward, Nade and Mark Finlayson tangled with each other for possession, Nade won the battle and sent clear over the bar from fifteen yards.

Falkirk went through a great spell and put the Hamilton defence under some real pressure, and were unlucky not to pull one back. Kyle Johnson broke at pace and played a brilliant ball wide for Shepherd on the right, but shot into the side netting with his first touch. Shepherd then crossed into a space in front of goal, O’Hara got a knee to it and sent just wide.

This however allowed Hamilton to break, with Redmond racing through the middle and playing wide for Mandiangu. The German cut inside going past two players then curled inches wide of the back post. Redman once again made a decent run through the centre and played forward to Kelly, who shot wide.

Great long ball out of defence toward the Falkirk penalty area, Nade brought under control and laid wide for Mandiangu, he cut inside and sent goal ward, but Finlayson managed to block for a corner kick. Cunningham then managed to evade a couple of challenges with some nifty footwork, his twenty yard shot going wid. Redmond then had an effort saved from twenty yards.

Cooper had a brilliant twenty five yard strike sail inches high of the Hamilton crossbar. Tom Grant then sent the ball out wide, ahead of the running figure of Tony Gallacher on the left. His cross crept closer and closer toward the goal, eventually forcing the back tracking Hamilton keeper into touching over the cross bar with his fingertips. 

Kyle Johnson conceded a free kick when he cynically stopped Mandiangu with an outstretched arm, and earning himself a booking. Redmond sent an out swinging ball toward the far post, Nade struck into the side netting. Mandiangu scored his first for the club when Cunningham stroked forward to Nade, who slipped through for Mandiangu to strike form eight yards, 2-0.