Hamilton goalkeeper Gary Woods hailed after victory over Thistle

Posted Sunday, February 25, 2018 by PA

Hamilton boss Martin Canning praised goalkeeper Gary Woods after his side’s last-gasp 2-1 victory over Partick Thistle.

Accies only went ahead in stoppage-time after David Templeton tapped in a rebound – but Thistle still had time to threaten an equaliser from Chris Erskine’s header.

But the midfielder’s effort was tipped off the line in acrobatic style by Woods, who had fumbled Josh Windass’s shot into his own net during last weekend’s 5-3 home defeat by Rangers.

Canning said: “Woodsy makes a fantastic save, a magnificent save, and he’s done that two or three times this season. That’s a big, big, save.

“That would have been a real sickener if they’d gone up the other end and equalised.”

Templeton also gained glowing praise for his composure after Antonio Rojano’s strike was parried.

“He didn’t panic, although I was wanting him to snatch at it – I was going ‘Shoot!’,” Canning said. “Maybe a little bit less experience, you do panic and maybe snatch at that and miss.

“But he had the composure – more composure than I would have had in that situation for sure.

“You see the quality he’s got. I think that position suits him – going and playing in the middle of the park. He puts a lot of work and picks up probably more of the ball.”

It was the first time Accies had beaten Thistle since August 2014, and it moved them two points above the Jags with two games in hand in 10th place in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Thistle boss Alan Archibald once again cut a dejected figure seven days after his side threw away a 1-0 goal lead in the final six minutes to lose to Dundee.

Conor Sammon gave them the lead for the second week running, from a ninth-minute penalty, but their advantage only lasted two minutes before Rojano headed an equaliser.

“Two weeks in a row, and we’ve not learned from it.,” said Archibald. “There’s no excuse, especially this week as well as we had three centre-halves on the pitch, enough organised lads there with a bit of nous about them to go and see the game out, take the point.

“We’re pushing for the winner, we’re still in a comfortable position, and didn’t have to dive in to lose their second goal.”