A Christian Nade header was enough to seal a slender 1-0 Accies win, against a young Hibs side at Ainslie Park. Hamilton remain second on forty points alongside leaders Celtic, and six clear of St. Mirren in third. Hamilton fielded a strong side that included Eamonn Brophy, scorer of Accies only goal away to Celtic in the Ladbrokes Premiership on Tuesday night, Jesus Garcia Tena and Danny Redmond.

Hamilton went straight into attack mode, pressing the Hibernian defence, but without creating the chances. Then Brophy made a run down the left, passing inside to Nade who sent along the eighteen yard line toward Chris Mandiangu. The German striker cut inside, taking the ball past two defenders and displaying some quick footwork, shot a foot high of the cross bar.

Steven Boyd showed some great skill, managing to retain possession whilst under close scrutiny from a couple of defenders, then touching wide for Brophy. The striker blasted at goal from eight yards, but Sean Brennan was quick on his toes and managed to block. Hibs countered when Dan Carmichael controlled then sent wide for Oli Shaw, his shot from twenty yards hit the side netting.

Redmond crossed into the near post area, Brophy ran in but hoisted the ball over the cross bar from six yards. Brennan was again made to show his quality, when he produced a magnificent one handed save from a Boyd strike. Boyd then delivered the corner kick to the near post, Shaun Want stormed in and battered an almighty shot off the underside of the cross bar.

Hibernian made a couple of attempts on the Hamilton goal before the half time whistle, when Adam Watson won the ball in a challenge with Want. He passed to Aaron Scott out on the left, Scott cut toward goal and shot over the cross bar from eighteen yards. Jordan Sinclair then shot from thirty yards, although powerful, it was a little to direct and Alan Martin saved comfortably.

Within sixty seconds of the restart, Scott McMann surged down the left hand side and almost to bye line, crossing for Nade who glanced just wide of the back post. Moments later, the Accies striker headed into the back of the net from a Chris Mandiangu cross, 0-1. McMann made another run down the left, this time his low ball into the penalty area struck the upright and out.

After a great spell of play initiated by Boyd, the ball found its way across to the opposite wing, and Ben Reilly unleashed a tremendous low shot from thirty yards, Brennan blocked. McMann took the ball to the bye line, this time cutting inside, beating two players as he done so. His cross sat up perfectly for Nade, who knocked over the cross bar with his outstretched foot.

An absolutely fantastic piece of skill from Boyd, saw the striker bring the ball under control and balance on his foot, before being dispossessed. The ball rolled wide to Redmond, who showed a trick of his own when he weaved by a couple of players, shot, and watched as Brennan saved again. Jesus Garcia Tena then sent the ball whistling past the post, from a twenty five yard free kick.

Redmond done well before unleashing toward the Hibernian goal from twenty five yards, but Brennan was on hand to save again. Hamilton substitute Ross Cunningham brought the ball under control out wide and delivered a great ball into the Hibs penalty area, and Nade rose to head onto the cross bar from twelve yards.