Accies hat-trick hero was 'taken out of the firing line' - and proved me right, says boss

Kevin O’Hara was taken out of the firing line by Hamilton boss John Rankin nine days ago, who says his gamble paid off with a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Stirling Albion on Saturday.

O’Hara doubled his tally for the season in the rout over Darren Young’s side, but his 14th-minute opener was the former Dunfermline striker’s first since netting in a 2-2 draw against the Binos at Forthbank on September 2.

That made him joint-top scorer at New Douglas Park with Euan Henderson, who also netted a double in the 5-0 rout and had a late penalty saved by Stirling keeper Blair Currie.

Rankin took O’Hara out of the team last weekend as they fell to their first defeat of the season, going down 1-0 at Cove Rangers, but said it was a considered decision.

“Kev didn’t come out of the team because he was dropped – and I emphasised that at the time,” said Rankin.

“We had to take him out of the firing line, because if you continually get chances and you’re not taking them, it becomes a case of you get your mind-set refreshed and come back in, and that’s what it was, with Kev.

“Last week when he came on he made a hell of a difference to us, and this week he was absolutely brilliant from the first minute.

“I’m delighted for him to get his three goals, and it gets him going and builds that momentum, so I’m delighted with that.”

O’Hara and Henderson were both on target as Accies took a 2-0 lead into the interval, with Kev netting either side of his strike partner to make sure of an important three points.

Henderson had a penalty saved in 85 minutes following a foul on Scott Martin, before Stirling’s Dale Hilson was shown a straight red card for a foul on Reghan Tumilty.

Rankin said: “Overall, to score five goals at home and get three points,