Hamilton 0-1 Hibernian

Sep 21 2008 Brian Welsh Reports

SUPERSUB Derek Riordan took just a minute to show Hibs fans he still has the magic that wowed them during his first spell at the club he loves. The Easter Road hero curled in a superb winner before the break just 60 seconds after replacing Steven Fletcher to make it two wins from two since his return.

But Accies were desperately unlucky after dominating the second half, although they will regret failing to ask serious questions of Hibs keeperYves Ma-Kalambay.

An entertaining opening 20 minutes began with chances at either end.

In just two minutes SPL Young Player of the Month James McArthur picked out Simon Mensing with an intelligent switch of play and his rasping drive flashed inches wide. Hibs responded two minutes later when John Rankin tried his luck from 20 yards but his shot swerved away from goal.

The first chants of 'There's only one Derek Riordan' were heard soon after when the Hibs subs ran out for their first warm-up and it was the Edinburgh side who came close to taking the lead soon after.

Dean Shiels' corner found Colin Nish in the box and the big striker leapt high to nod the ball off the underside of the bar. The rebound fell to Fletcher but his header was high.

Accies forced their way back in to the game. Richard Offiong caused uncertainty among the Hibs defence but could only side-foot a half-chance straight at Ma-Kalambay.

Nish missed a great chance when played in by the busy Shiels, firing straight at Tomas Cerny who parried to safety.

The Hibees suffered a blow eight minutes from the break when flu-hit Fletcher was replaced by Riordan who took just a minute to make his mark.

Ian Murray won possession in the middle and fed the ball for Rankin to pick the sub out on the left.

Riordan turned back inside Mensing before sending an inchperfect curling drive in to Cerny's top left corner.

That gave Hibs a half-time lead they just about deserved.

However, their plans were distrupted for a second time seven minutes after the interval when Nish limped off to be replaced by Steve Pinau.

Accies began to push forward in droves and James McCarthy timed his run perfectly to meet a pacy Mensing cross but could not control his volley.

Billy Reid went for broke on the hour with a triple substitution that saw Mark Corcoran, Stephen Ettien and Joel Thomas form a fresh home attack.

The move almost paid off immediately when Thomas dinked a chip from 15 yards only for Ma-Kalambay to tip the ball wide at full stretch. The home side had a golden chance 12 minutes from the end.

Ma-Kalambay fumbled Mark Corcoran's fierce shot straight to the feet of McArthur but the midfielder wrecked a sound display by firing wide with the goal at his mercy.

REF WATCH

DOUGIE McDONALD got major calls right. Only complaint was there were never four bookings in a clean game. Rating: 7/10.