St Mirren 3 - 1 Hamilton

Higdon netted a vital hat-trick for St Mirren against Hamilton

St Mirren   3 - 1   Hamilton

Michael Higdon's hat-trick moved St Mirren nine points clear of Scottish Premier League bottom club Hamilton.

David Buchanan put Hamilton ahead before the half-time interval with a long-range, left-footed strike.

Higdon headed in a second-half equaliser, then made it two from the spot when Martin Canning was red carded for a challenge on Paul McGowan.

The striker sealed the points inside a 10-minute period, latching on to a Craig Dargo pass and firing home.

And St Mirren's game in hand means they could go further clear of Accies, whose plight in the relegation spot deepens. The Buddies made two changes for the match, David van Zanten and Hugh Murray coming in for Aaron Mooy and Marc McAusland who both started on the bench.

Accies made four changes with Canning, Buchanan, Nigel Hasselbaink and Tom Elliot earning starts.

McGowan fired a ball to the back post after 10 minutes, but no-one was waiting to pounce.

Hamilton's Alex Neil whacked in a shot from 25 yards in the 16th minute that cleared the St Mirren crossbar.

As the half-hour mark approached, the hosts got a fright when Hasselbaink drifted down to the touchline and fed the ball across to Jim McAlister, but Buddies keeper Paul Gallacher managed to parry the shot wide.

Ten minutes later, Flavio Paixao went one-on-one with Gallacher but, after a 45-yard run, the Portuguese tried to be too smart and the keeper blocked. The ball broke again, but Ali Crawford was beaten by the bounce.

With the interval looming, Buchanan netted a vital goal for Accies with a sweet, left-footed strike from 25 yards out that flew straight into the top corner of the St Mirren net.

After the break, an inswinging corner taken by St Mirren's Kenny McLean landed at the feet of Lee Mair who shot for goal, but Tomas Cerny made the save.

Steven Thomson then hit the Accies side-netting with a sterling opportunity as the hosts tried to battle their way back into the match.

With 16 minutes of the second half played, St Mirren were back in the game with Higdon's 12th goal of the season, latching on to a Van Zanten cross and heading the ball into the back of Cerny's goal.

Two minutes later, Accies were reduced to 10 men when Canning was sent off for denying McGowan a goal-scoring opportunity and Higdon made no mistake from the spot.

Higdon completed his hat-trick when Dargo picked him out with a ball from wide on the right. Higdon stepped on to it, and teed up a shot that sailed past Cerny from close range.

Accies failed to find a way back into the match, outnumbered all too often in their own half of the pitch, and Danny Lennon's men held out for a well-deserved victory.

Live text and stats

 

Saturday, 2 April 2011

Scottish Premier

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
St Mirren	3-1	Hamilton	FT
(HT 0-1)
Higdon 61 Higdon (pen) 64 Higdon 71		Buchanan 43

St Mirren

• 01 Gallacher
• 02 van Zanten
• 05 Mair
• 14 McGregor
• 16 Travner
• 07 Murray yellow card
• 08 Thomson
• 11 Goodwin (Dargo 59)
• 45 Mclean (Mooy 90+1)
• 10 Higdon yellow card (Cregg 75)
• 19 McGowan

Substitutes

• 12 Samson,
• 06 Potter,
• 17 McAusland,
• 27 Cregg,
• 33 Mooy ,
• 43 McKernon,
• 09 Dargo

Hamilton

• 01 Cerny
• 04 Canning red card
• 12 Buchanan
• 25 Elebert
• 08 McDonald yellow card
• 11 McAlister
• 17 Crawford
• 10 Neil
• 18 Flavio Paixao
• 30 Hasselbaink (Gillepsie 77)
• 36 Elliott

Substitutes

• 19 Murdoch,
• 05 Graham,
• 03 Skelton,
• 15 Wildig,
• 16 Chambers,
• 24 Gillepsie,
• 99 Antoine-Curier

Ref: CollumAtt: 4,985

ST MIRREN

HAMILTON

Possession

• St Mirren 51%
• Hamilton 49%

Attempts on target

• St Mirren 3
• Hamilton 2

Attempts off target

• St Mirren 1
• Hamilton 1

Corners

• St Mirren 3
• Hamilton 5

Fouls

• St Mirren 19
• Hamilton 17

• Final Result
• Full Time
• 90:00+3:12 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
• 90:00+2:38 Tom Elliott fouled by Darren McGregor, the ref awards a free kick. Alex Neil takes the free kick.
• 90:00+0:37 Foul by Grant Gillespie on Steven Thomson, free kick awarded. Steven Thomson takes the indirect free kick.
• 90:00+0:37 Substitution Aaron Mooy replaces Kenny McLean.
• 89:27 Alex Neil gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Dargo. Indirect free kick taken by Patrick Cregg.
• 88:52 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Buchanan by Paul McGowan. David Buchanan takes the indirect free kick.
• 86:15 Darren McGregor fouled by Flavio Paixao, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Gallacher restarts play with the free kick.
• 80:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren McGregor on Tom Elliott. Ali Crawford takes the free kick.
• 76:30 Substitution Grant Gillespie replaces Nigel Hasselbaink.
• 74:38 Substitution Patrick Cregg joins the action as a substitute, replacing Michael Higdon.
• 73:38 Unfair challenge on Tom Elliott by Hugh Murray results in a free kick. Free kick taken by David Buchanan.
• 70:35 Assist by Craig Dargo.
• 70:35 GOAL - Michael Higdon:St Mirren 3 - 1 Hamilton Michael Higdon scores a goal from close range to the top left corner of the goal. St Mirren 3-1 Hamilton.
• 69:32 Nigel Hasselbaink is caught offside. Paul Gallacher takes the indirect free kick.
• 67:51 Foul by Michael Higdon on David Elebert, free kick awarded. David Elebert takes the free kick.
• 67:03 Flavio Paixao fouled by Darren McGregor, the ref awards a free kick. Ali Crawford restarts play with the free kick.
• 65:12 Ali Crawford takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Hugh Murray.
• 63:50 Foul by Martin Canning on Craig Dargo, Penalty awarded.
• 63:50 GOAL - Michael Higdon:St Mirren 2 - 1 Hamilton Michael Higdon scores a penalty. St Mirren 2-1 Hamilton.
• 63:04 Sent off Martin Canning dismissed for violent conduct.
• 60:58 David van Zanten provided the assist for the goal.
• 60:58 GOAL - Michael Higdon:St Mirren 1 - 1 Hamilton Michael Higdon grabs a headed goal from inside the box. St Mirren 1-1 Hamilton.
• 60:16 Nigel Hasselbaink handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Paul Gallacher takes the indirect free kick.
• 59:28 Unfair challenge on Ali Crawford by Hugh Murray results in a free kick. David Elebert takes the free kick.
• 59:28 Booking Hugh Murray is cautioned.
• 58:05 Substitution (St Mirren) makes a substitution, with Craig Dargo coming on for Jim Goodwin.
• 54:59 Tom Elliott fouled by Jim Goodwin, the ref awards a free kick. Alex Neil takes the indirect free kick.
• 54:36 Steven Thomson takes a shot.
• 54:07 Tom Elliott gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darren McGregor. Free kick taken by Darren McGregor.
• 52:04 Inswinging corner taken by Kenny McLean from the right by-line, Lee Mair takes a shot. Save by Tomas Cerny.
• 50:12 Gary McDonald fouled by Hugh Murray, the ref awards a free kick. Tomas Cerny takes the free kick.
• 49:23 Unfair challenge on Jure Travner by Nigel Hasselbaink results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Darren McGregor.
• 49:09 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Kenny McLean.
• 47:05 Paul McGowan concedes a free kick for a foul on Martin Canning. Tomas Cerny takes the indirect free kick.
• 45:01 The referee starts the second half.
• 45:00+2:10 Outswinging corner taken by Ali Crawford from the right by-line played to the near post.
• 45:00+0:17 Michael Higdon challenges David Elebert unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tomas Cerny takes the free kick.
• 45:00+0:17 Booking The referee shows Michael Higdon a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
• 44:00 Lee Mair gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Martin Canning. Tomas Cerny takes the indirect free kick.
• 42:47 GOAL - David Buchanan:St Mirren 0 - 1 Hamilton A goal is scored by David Buchanan from just outside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. St Mirren 0-1 Hamilton.
• Half Time
• 42:37 The first half comes to an end.
• 40:19 Flavio Paixao takes a shot. Save by Paul Gallacher.
• 40:01 Kenny McLean takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Flavio Paixao makes a clearance.
• 38:48 Alex Neil challenges Paul McGowan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Gallacher restarts play with the free kick.
• 37:53 Free kick awarded for a foul by Martin Canning on Paul McGowan. Kenny McLean takes the indirect free kick.
• 36:55 Hugh Murray concedes a free kick for a foul on Ali Crawford. Alex Neil takes the free kick.
• 34:22 Unfair challenge on Gary McDonald by Jim Goodwin results in a free kick. Flavio Paixao takes the indirect free kick.
• 33:28 The official flags Darren McGregor offside. Free kick taken by Tomas Cerny.
• 32:43 Martin Canning concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Higdon. Kenny McLean takes the indirect free kick.
• 31:21 David Buchanan challenges Paul McGowan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jim Goodwin takes the indirect free kick.
• 30:12 Flavio Paixao concedes a free kick for a foul on David van Zanten. Lee Mair takes the free kick.
• 29:13 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Alex Neil.
• 27:57 Corner taken right-footed by Ali Crawford, clearance by Kenny McLean.
• 25:33 James McAlister takes a shot. Save by Paul Gallacher.
• 23:21 Foul by Alex Neil on Paul McGowan, free kick awarded. Kenny McLean takes the indirect free kick.
• 21:12 The referee blows for offside against Nigel Hasselbaink. Indirect free kick taken by Darren McGregor.
• 20:45 Nigel Hasselbaink gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jure Travner. Paul Gallacher takes the indirect free kick.
• 19:06 Jure Travner fouled by Gary McDonald, the ref awards a free kick. Kenny McLean restarts play with the free kick.
• 19:06 Booking Booking for Gary McDonald for unsporting behaviour.
• 18:38 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary McDonald on Jure Travner. Darren McGregor restarts play with the free kick.
• 17:46 Ali Crawford takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Michael Higdon makes a clearance.
• 17:37 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Ali Crawford from the right by-line.
• 14:00 The referee blows for offside. Tomas Cerny takes the indirect free kick.
• 13:03 David Elebert fouled by Michael Higdon, the ref awards a free kick. Tomas Cerny restarts play with the free kick.
• 10:39 Foul by Jim Goodwin on James McAlister, free kick awarded. Martin Canning takes the free kick.
• 8:14 David Elebert concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Mair. Jim Goodwin takes the free kick.
• 6:44 Paul McGowan challenges David Buchanan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ali Crawford restarts play with the free kick.
• 5:51 Unfair challenge on Tom Elliott by David van Zanten results in a free kick. Ali Crawford restarts play with the free kick.
• 5:01 Darren McGregor fouled by Nigel Hasselbaink, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul Gallacher.
• 1:47 Kenny McLean challenges Alex Neil unfairly and gives away a free kick. Martin Canning restarts play with the free kick.
• 0:00 The referee gets the game started.

---

Live text and data provided by The Press Association.