Posted May 5, 2013

 

Three second half goals from Scott Linton, Craig Moore and Marc McKenzie capped a great comeback as we beat Hamilton Accies 3-1 at New Douglas Park to preserve our Irn Bru First Division status for next season after Dunfermline went down 3-1 to Airdrie at East End Park.

 

On loan Stevie May, playing in his last game for the Lanarkshire side, kept up his fine goal scoring run to open the scoring midway through the first half but soon after the home side were reduced to ten men after Andy Ryan was handed a straight red card after lashing out at Thomas O'Brien.

 

At the half time interval with the Dunfermline game still goal less Colin Cameron went for all out attack in the second half introducing Marc McKenzie and Lewis Coult and we were rewarded with an equaliser within three minutes when Scott Linton rose to head home a McKenzie cross.

 

Accies still made a game of it as they battled for a third place finish but 16 minutes from time Craig Moore volleyed us into the lead and with seven minutes to go McKenzie, whose brace against Forfar clinched the Second Division title last season, grabbed our third goal after being set up by the Motherwell youngster who now returns to his parent club after scoring an impressive seven goals in 12 appearances for us.

 

Over at East End Park goals from Liam Coogans and Willie McLaren either side of Ryan Thomson's equaliser gave former Central Parker Jimmy Boyle's Airdrie a 2-1 win which will now see our neighbours face Forfar in the play-offs.

 

It has been a memorable season back in the First Division for Colin Cameron's side with some highs and some lows but we the players and management have battled all the way to preserve our First Division status and to keep us in the division for a second successive season the first time this has happened in 80 years!

 

Well done all.