Obua makes the difference

Hearts made it two home wins in two under Jim Jefferies with a 2-0 victory over second from bottom Hamilton on Sunday. Second half goals from David Obua and David Templeton were enough to secure the win, and cut the gap with rivals Hibs in third to nine points.

The home side were the first to threaten after five minutes. Arvydas Novikovas’ in-swinging free kick eluded everyone but Tomas Cerny, who palmed the ball away from the far post. Jason Thomson had a go eight minutes later, but couldn’t keep his drive down.

Hamilton’s first attempt came from Flavio Paixao, whose dipping volley from the angle of the box wasn’t too far wide of Marian Kello’s post. James McArthur should have scored minutes later, but the midfielder couldn’t connect with Marco Paixao’s excellent delivery.

Hearts stand in skipper Marius Zaliukas spurned his own headed opportunity on 32 minutes. The defender was unmarked at a corner, but could only head Novikovas’ kick over the top. Neither side managed to create much else, going in goalless at the break after an uninspiring first half.

Lee Wallace had the first sight of goal after the restart. Zaliukas’ attempt to force the ball goal-ward whilst on the ground was blocked. The ball fell to Wallace on the angle but the left back could only smash it over in front of watching Scotland boss Craig Levein.

David Obua then flicked on Novikovas’ 58th minute corner at the near post. Jason Thomson threw himself into a diving header but was off target.

The visitors then spurned the game’s best opportunity thus far. Marco Paixao put his twin in behind the Hearts defence, and the Portuguese was only denied by Kello’s fine stop low to his right.

Jefferies’ side punished Accies for the miss just three minutes later. Sub Ryan Wallace released Ryan Stevenson, who outpaced Canning down the right channel before cutting inside and crossing left footed. David Obua managed to stretch enough to head the ball in to the far corner, beyond the helpless Cerny.

This forced Billy Reid’s men to push forward in search of an equaliser. Despite a period of pressure, Zaliukas and Kucharski held firm and limited the Lanarkshire men to long distance efforts.

As it was, the home side doubled their advantage on 79 minutes. David Templeton chased Jonsson’s angled ball with Brian Easton. The on-loan Burnley man was unsettled by the youngster’s pressure and lobbed the ball over his advancing goalkeeper. Templeton was alert enough to chase the ball and managed to bundle it home from close range to claim his first Hearts goal.

Easton attempted to make amends for his error with a thundering volley from the edge of the area with seven minutes remaining, which Kello dealt with at the 2nd attempt.

Ghanaian Laryea Kingston made his return to action as a late sub, and the midfielder’s dipping volley was well held by Cerny. Kingston came close again in stoppage time, collecting Wallace’s pass before sending a vicious right foot shot just wide.

That proved to be the last action of the game, Steve Conroy’s whistle confirming a second successive win for Hearts, who remain in the top six, whilst Hamilton sit one point ahead of Falkirk at the foot of the table.