Aberdeen 1-0 Hamilton

Feb 3 2008 Euan Mclean At Pittodrie

Calderwood Hails Reid's Cup Battlers

RELIEVED Jimmy Calderwood sealed Hamilton's second Scottish Cup exit in a week then told them they deserve Dons' quarter-final place.

One top-class through ball from Barry Nicholson and a fine 61st-minute finish by Zander Diamond was enough to see Caldo's men into the last 16.

But that magic moment was not enough to cover up a dreadful disjointed performance from Dons who were outclassed in the first half by the First Division underdogs.

While Accies were lucky to be at Pittodrie after their conquerors in the previous round, Brechin, were kicked out for fielding two ineligible players you had to feel sorry for them following this performance.

Even Caldo admitted they deserve to be in this afternoon's draw instead of his side.

The Dons boss said: "The result was certainly hard on Hamilton. I just said to Billy Reid his team played so well and he can be proud of them. When you play that well you should win.

"It was a poor performance by us. Hamilton dominated possession in the first half, we started sloppily and never got into any rhythm while they knocked it about for fun.

"At half-time we were lucky to still be 0-0 but Barry's pass for the goal was the bit of class that got us through."

Accies have earned rave reviews for the attacking style that has propelled them to the First Division summit so it was no surprise they came out with all guns blazing.

The game was just a minute old when wonderkid James McCarthy strode out of midfield to release Mark Gilhaney on a surging run down the right flank.

Gilhaney cut inside full-back Stuart Duff and his ambitious effort from a tight angle forced keeper Jamie Langfield to tip over.

Dons could have quelled that early enthusiasm when Ricky Foster worked a quick one-two with Lee Miller to nip into the box but he couldn't get his shot past keeper Bryn Halliwell.

Left-back Tom Parratt literally handed Aberdeen another chance when he used his arm to stop aMiller pass reaching Foster.

It earned Parratt a booking and new signing Josh Walker the chance to make a dream start from the free-kick.

The on-loan Middlesbrough man's curling set piece swung a foot wide - and he went on to be one of Aberdeen's few plus points with an excellent debut.

Hamilton still looked more dangerous with the outstanding David Graham, James McArthur and McCarthy bossing midfield.

Their forays forward became increasingly regular and when Paratt swung in a tempting cross the static defenders and Langfield just watched as Tony Stevenson's header hit a post.

Dons responded with Darren Mackie coming agonisingly close in 20 minutes when his lob caught out Halliwell who was lucky to see the ball bounce across the gaping goal and wide.

But again Accies came right back at them. Scott Severin was left trailing by Graham who took a return pass from McCarthy and saw his shot from 12 yards blocked by the keeper's feet.

Apart fromAndy Considine's swirling 30-yard piledriver that was turned away by Halliwell, Aberdeen barely threatened again in the first half. Nicholson copped a yellow card for a late tackle on Gilhaney right on halftime that prompted a chorus of boos from the frustrated home fans.

A switch was inevitable and Derek Young's introduction at the break for the anonymous Jeffrey de Visscher heralded a brighter spell for Dons.

They still almost blew it with kamikaze defending by Diamond gifting possession to Brian Easton on the edge of the box but again Langfield made a crucial stop.

And the big defender made up for that clanger in 61 minutes by putting Aberdeen ahead.

It all came from a touch of class by Nicholson who threaded an exquisite 30-yard pass through to pick out Diamond's well-timed run.

The stopper then showed the composure of a 30-goal striker to clip his finish across Halliwell and inside the far post.

Dons threw another debutant, Alan Maybury, into the action in place of Duff for the last 22 minutes - soon followed by James Grady making his first appearance for Accies as Gilhaney went off.

Walker passed up a good chance to seal the win for Aberdeen when he shot straight at Halliwell from 16 yards.

Grady would have snatched a draw at the death had he not stumbled on the ball as he went clear on goal. That summed up Hamilton's luckless day.

REF WATCH

DOUGIE McDONALD and his assistants had one baffling offside call in the second half but overall there was little controversy to test the whistler. His bookings were fair and consistent and his performance was solid. Rating: 6/10.