Raith Rovers 3 Hamilton 3: Accies didn't deserve a point, admits boss as he praises Oli Shaw's last-gasp leveller

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Oli Shaw rescued a point for Hamilton Accies with a last-gasp leveller as they came from 3-1 down to hold Raith Rovers.

Accies had actually taken an early lead in the game thanks to a Kevin O'Hara penalty after just two minutes, but Rovers responded to take control at Stark's Park with Lewis Stevenson quickly equalising before Finlay Pollok struck to give them a 2-1 lead at the break.

Dylan Easton looked to have put the game to bed in the 54th minute when he fired home from close range.

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However, Accies new boy Connor Smith sparked the comeback when his deflected effort found the back of the net with 12 minutes remianing. And in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Shaw netted from a Jamie Barjonas corner to spark jubilant scenes in the away end.

It is Hamilton's third draw in seven games and leaves them seventh in the table with six points fo far.

While boss John Rankin was pleased with the fightback from his players, he felt their performance didn't merit anything from the game.

He told the club media: "I think it's a point we didn't deserve. I thought we started the game on the front foot and got the early penalty and, to be honest, it probably settled Raith more than ourselves. We looked nervous after that and, probably, fragile.

"Raith began to dominate and we kind of backed off, gave them space to play in space we didn't want them to. Ultimately, it goes 1-1.

Oli Shaw right at the death for Accies
Oli Shaw right at the death for Accies

"We get back together and then leaves gaps for them to get into, they go 2-1 up. We concede a poor third goal but I have got to give the players credit.

"We made a couple of changes towards the end to try and go for it. We got ourselves back in the game through Connor and I'm delighted he got his first goal since he came back.

"At that moment, I could sense from the energy in the stadium that they were vulnerable and it was about seeing if we could get something out of it, put balls into the box.

"At the end it is great quality from Barjo at the corner and Oli does what Oli does. I am delighted for him, but to come away from home, score three goals and only get a point is not good enough."

Hamilton Manager John Rankin
Hamilton Manager John Rankin

Rankin admits he got his tactics wrong in the first-half and held his hands up for that, adding: "I thought the shape we had in the first half troubled them the first time we were here and I thought it would do so again. It didn't quite go to plan and that is my fault. I'll take the blame for that, I don't think I got the shape right.

"The changes at half-time were made to give us a bit of a jag and it could have been anyone coming off at half-time, I don't think anybody played well in the first half. When we went 3-1 down, we could have felt sorry for ourselves but that is never the case with this set of players."

The Accies players went over to the away section to celebrate with supporters at the end, and Rankin hailed the Accies faithful for sticking by them until the final whistle.

He said: "The supporters were quite right to be angry with the first half performance. They pay lots of money to come here.

Accies fans celebrate Shaw's equaliser
Accies fans celebrate Shaw's equaliser

"But the fans that were here at the end, you could see how much it went to them. They never chucked it, qwe never chucked it and it is going to take that togetherness between us and them to help us through.

"It is a crazy league. A couple of weeks ago, we were 2-0 up [against Airdrie] with a few minutes to go and drew. Raith were two goals up here and drew.

"It is going to be like that between now and the end of the season, but we need the fans behind us because they are so important for the players. If we can build that togetherness, we'll be alright."

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