DAVID Templeton cross. Hakeem Odoffin goal. It’s becoming a familiar sight for Hamilton Accies and manager Brian Rice this season.
The pair combined with maximum effect once again as they secured a battling point for the Lanarkshire side, who fought back in the face of a mouthwatering first-half display from Micky Mellon’s Dundee United.
It’ll come as no surprise to some Odoffin, a former striker, is making a habit of getting on the scoresheet, but he is just happy to be doing his bit for a manager who placed his faith in him.
“I’m just glad I can make a contribution in both boxes,” the Englishman said. “I’ve been trying more to get on the end of crosses and it seems to be working so far this season.
“I used to play up top when I was younger. From the age of nine until I was about 12 I played on the wing and up front.
“When I played Sunday League I scored a few goals, but then I started moving further and further back.
“It was a long time ago, but it has been nice to get that feeling of scoring goals back.”
The Sunday League to deepest darkest South Lanarkshire, playing in front of no fans and cardboard cutouts of Boris Johnson and Donald Trump, might not be the most conventional of dreams, but it’s one Odoffin is delighted to be living.
Also in Hamilton. pic.twitter.com/hqTC7CP6af
— Jack Haugh (@JackMHaugh) September 26, 2020
The fact his team is finding ways to prove the doubters wrong time and time again will be a big part of that, this the second time in less than three weeks Accies have come behind for at least a point.
“You can never question our fight,” the 22-year-old former Barnet man, who is Hamilton's top scorer this season, said. “We showed a lot of desire to get back into it and got our reward.
“It was disappointing not to get three points, but it was another good reaction from us.
“We fought and fought and I thought we were unlucky not to get a second.
“It is important for us to get off the bottom. Every point in this league is also important.
“We haven't done as well as we should have at home so hopefully we can now build on this.
“We have Hibs away on Friday so the aim is to try and take some points from that game before the break.”
If they are to take points in the capital, Odoffin knows Accies will have to find a way to get out of an unfortunate habit that has seen the team concede a goal inside 20 minutes in each of their last four games.
Just three minutes were on the clock on Saturday when Lawrence Shankland glided into the box to pick up Adrian Sporle’s pass and fire into the corner. It was the kind of finish the one-time Aberdeen man made a habit of last season and, worryingly for United’s rivals, he’s beginning to do the same this time around.
He had Logan Chalmers to thank for his part in the goal, the sprightly young winger picking the ball up on the halfway line, teasing his way beyond Scott McMann, before laying it into the path of Sporle.
More was to come from Chalmers. A flick took him once again out of the reach of the Accies’ captain, only for the youngster to fire narrowly over, then he laid it on a plate for Sporle, but Lee Hodson got back in time to force the Argentinian wide.
It’s little wonder Micky Mellon was leading calls for Chalmers to be picked in Scot Gemmill’s under-21 side later this week. In truth, Mellon’s decision to hook Chalmers with more than 20 minutes on the clock seemed to turn the tide Hamilton’s way.
Nicky Clark, who forced Ryan Fulton into an impressive save and later missed a gilt-edged chance at 1-0 in the second-half, joined his manager in praising the young winger’s impact.
“He’s brilliant and has loads of ability,” Clark, 29, said of Chalmers. “He’s shown that the last few weeks.
“He’s got a great leftfoot, is tricky, and is quick. It’s great to see him doing so well and there’s a lot of young boys with enthusiasm that are round about the first team and I am sure they will get their chance.
“He doesn’t look that quick but when you are up against him in training you see he can run. Hopefully he keeps doing that.”
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