Hamilton 2-0 Clyde

Apr 20 2008 Scott Mcdermott At New Douglas Park

Accies Babes Become Men As They Move Up To Big Time

BILLY REID'S babes booked their return to the big boys' playground as Accies clinched promotion to the SPL.

Beating Clyde at fortress New Douglas Park was like taking sweeties off a wean in the end.

Goals from Tony Stevenson and Richard Offiong put the Lanarkshire club back where they belong and capped an incredible campaign for Reid and his players.

This group, made up largely of talented kids, haven't lost a game in the First Division at home all season. They've conceded just three goals on their own patch, albeit an artificial one.

So forget under-achievers Dunfermline, St Johnstone and even Dundee, who lost yesterday, Hamilton are deserved champs.

Reid deserves enormous credit for having the nerve to blood young stars like James McCarthy, Brian Easton, James McArthur and Stevenson in what is a tough league to get out of.

But they've done it and at times made it look like child's play.

Aside from lifting the title trophy yesterday, maybe the most pleasing thing for Reid and chairman Ronnie McDonald is that they paraded around 100 kids at half-time who are all part of their youth programme - the next generation.

But it's the current crop who deserve all the plaudits. As well as the teenagers, old-timers like Mark McLaughlin and Alex Neil have played a major part in the title success.

And who's to say they won't take the SPL by storm either? But that's for next term - yesterday was all about basking in the glory of reaching Scotland's top flight for the first time in 19 years and doing it in style.

Around 5000 Accies fans packed into the ground expecting a party. There was face-paintings, cheerleaders, daft hats and even one guy who'd decided to dye his hair red and white for the day.

For those who couldn't afford to pay at the gate, they perched on a wall outside the ground and got a cracking view as the drama unfolded.

Clyde had their own agenda, trying desperately to avoid a dreaded play-off slot which could be disastrous for John Brown and the Broadwood club. But despite a decent start, where they stifled Accies, they shot themselves in the foot after just 20 minutes. Stevenson's cross into the box attracted Bully Wee keeper David Hutton into no-man's land and McArthur outjumped him to head across goal.

Simon Mensing's shot was heading for the net before Clyde skipper Neil McGregor saved it on the line, Carlos Cuellar-style.

Ref Willie Collum had no option but to give the penalty and send McGregor packing.

But with so little time gone surely he'd have been better just conceding the goal?

Stevenson made no mistake with the kick, sending Hutton the wrong way to give Hamilton a dream start.

Clyde had a mountain to climb and when word filtered through of Dundee's demise at Palmerston, the home side were given another lift. Just before the break they all but sealed the points and the title.

A lung-bursting run from Easton took him down the left flank before he slipped the ball to Offiong.

The league's top scorer skinned his man in the box before rifling home into the bottom corner, giving Hutton no chance.

At that point, for Reid's side to lose they'd have to concede in one half the same amount of goals as they've lost all season, which just wasn't happening.

The second half was like a training exercise or testimonial game. Accies stroked the ball about, almost pleading with Collum to blow his whistle early and get the party started.

Offiong and Mark Gilhaney had chances but the job was done and at time up you felt Reid's boys had finally come of age.

MoM: McLaughlin (Hamilton)