Hamilton 3-0 Morton

Mar 9 2008 Alan Mcmillan At New Douglas Park

DAVID GRAHAM stayed on course for a second successive First Division medal with a brilliant opener as Hamilton tightened their grip on top spot.

And the attacker is hoping his experience of winning the title with Gretna last season can help Billy Reid's boys over the finishing line.

Accies took advantage of the fact Dundee were on Scottish Cup business to move five points clear in the race for the SPL by making it 12 league points out of 12 against Morton.

The first goal was a belter by Graham then Tony Stevenson made it 2-0 from the spot before sub James Gibson hit No.3.

Graham, who's on loan from Gretna, said: "It would be nice if we could play Morton every week because that's my second Hamilton goal and both have come against them.

"The ball dropped nicely for me and I just hit it. At training the ball usually ends up in the back row of the stand so it was great to see that one go in.

"But we're not thinking about the title just yet. There's a long way to go and no one knows better than me it's not over until it's over.

"If any of the boys want to talk to me about my experiences with Gretna I'm happy to have a chat. If it helps, great.

"We've made a good start to a difficult week. We go to Dunfermline on Wednesday and Dundee come here on Saturday so both will be tough games.

"I just hope the title race doesn't go to the last day because we have Dundee away and that could be squeaky bum time for some of our younger lads."

Without influential midfielders Alex Neil and James McArthur, Hamilton struggled in the first half and Morton looked the better side.

Having to replace injured right-back Tom Parratt with Gibson after 20 minutes was another setback.

The home fans grew restless and ref Steve Conroy did nothing to ease their frustrations when he refused to give a penalty after a Graham cross had hit Ryan Harding's arm.

However, Graham's disgust turned to delight in 36 minutes when he put Accies ahead.

The Ton defence stood and admired a long clearance by keeper Tomas Cerny as it bounced on the edge of the box, allowingGraham to nip in and lash a left-foot shot high past David McGurn.

Stevenson and Gibson both hit the woodwork shortly after. And it took two superb saves in quick succession by McGurn to deny Graham and James McCarthy and stop the home side doubling their advantage early in the second period.

However, the keeper gave away a penalty in 54 minutes when he tripped McCarthy as he raced to get on the end of a Graham pass. Stevenson coolly netted from the spot.

Morton wanted a penalty when Jim McAlister went down but Conroy waved play on and Allan Jenkins hit a powerful drive inches over.

Hamilton went 3-0 up in 70 minutes. A Stevenson free-kick was headed back across goal by Simon Mensing and Gibson smashed a left-foot volley into the roof of the net.

Accies manager Reid said: "Psychologically it's good to have opened a five-point gap.

But we go to Dunfermline now who will be smarting because we've taken nine points out of nine from them so far."

Ton boss Davie Irons said: "We were the better team in the first half but didn't deal with a straightforward ball up the pitch and they were ahead.

"When it went 3-0 the game was over because Hamilton have only lost three goals at home in the league all season."

MoM: Graham (Hamilton)