BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Premier (original) (raw)

David Clarkson celebrates with his team-mate Cillian Sheridan

Hamilton Accies secured top-flight football for next season despite losing to Motherwell at New Douglas Park.

David Clarkson opened the scoring in the Lanarkshire derby with a scorching drive high into the net on 22 minutes.

Cillian Sheridan doubled the lead in the second-half with a tap-in and John Sutton's close-range strike completed the rout four minutes from time.

Derek Lyle and Simon Mensing went close for Hamilton in the second-half but they could not find a way back.

However, with Inverness beaten at Kilmarnock, Accies cannot drop into the bottom slot on the final weekend of the season.

Ipswich Town boss Roy Keane and several English Premier League scouts were in attendance to keep an eye on James McCarthy and the Accies teenager was involved in an early chances, setting up Lyle for a shot that went wide of the mark.

James McArthur was next to threaten after picking up a pass from Joel Thomas, but his angled drive was cleared off the line by Motherwell captain Stephen Craigan.

Maros Klimpl and Sheridan both tried their luck with long-range drives, but failed to bother Accies keeper Tomas Cerny.

Motherwell took the lead with a counter-attack after goalkeeper Graeme Smith had punched clear a Lyle free-kick and then palmed away a Chris Swailes header.

The visitors raced up the park and Clarkson fired high into the back of the net from close range for his 14th goal of the season after Sheridan's shot was saved by Cerny.

As Hamilton pressed for an equaliser Smith did well to block Mark McLaughlin's close-range volley from Lyle's free-kick and, as half-time approached, Shaun Hutchinson cleared the ball off the goal-line after Lyle had chipped the keeper.

Sheridan nodded an early second-half header wide of the mark but the on-loan Celtic striker grabbed Motherwell's second in the 58th minute with a simple goal from close range after a Steven Hughes crossed broke into his path.

With the Hamilton goal empty, the Irishman picked up the ball on the six yard line and walked it into the net past Cerny.

Mensing and Stuart Taylor tried their luck from distance but failed to trouble Smith and the former player completely misfired with the goal gaping as Accies spurned a great chance to get a foothold on the match.

Sutton piled more misery on the home side with a strike four minutes from time after Sheridan worked the ball in from the edge of the penalty area and set up the former St Mirren man to blast home from close range.

Hamilton manager Billy Reid:
"I'm drained. We were disappointed with the result, but not with how we played.

"But the most important thing is staying in the league. As a group, I can't ask any more of my players - they give us everything.

"They run themselves into the ground, and over the season, they deserve to stay in the league.

"We can't buy a goal at the moment. There was so many chances, but the ball just wouldn't go into the back of the net.

"At times, your destiny is made out for you, but we've made history - we're the first Hamilton Accies side to stay in the SPL, so I'm a proud man."

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:
"I think we looked the more likely team to win, and we ran out comfortable winners.

"Equally, there was a few scrambles, and they might have nicked one - but I'm thoroughly satisfied.

"Graeme Smith had a great game - he's been amazing since I arrived here, and if he goes, I'll be disappointed.

"We're probably going to lose Graeme and Stephen Hughes, but we should be able to keep the rest and I think we just want to add one or two players to replace the ones we lose.

"Hopefully, that'll give us a squad that can compete next season."

Hamilton: Cerny, Swailes (Deuchar 54), Canning, McLaughlin, Easton, Mensing, McCarthy, Neil, McArthur (Taylor 77), Lyle, Thomas (McGowan 61).
Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Corcoran, Gibson, Evans.

Booked: McArthur, Neil, McLaughlin.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, McLean, Hutchinson, Klimpl, Hughes, O'Brien (Slane 86), Clarkson (Sutton 78), Murphy (McGarry 67), Sheridan.
Subs Not Used: Krysiak, Malcolm, Darren Smith, Meechan.

Booked: Clarkson, Klimpl.

Goals: Clarkson 22, Sheridan 58, Sutton 86.

Att: 3,383

Ref: A Muir