Hamilton Academical vs Kilmarnock. Scottish Premiership.
The HopeCBD StadiumAttendance4,348.
Saturday 14 April 2018 19:57, UK
Kris Boyd scored his 21st goal of the season as Kilmarnock boosted their European hopes with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Hamilton.
After a goalless first half, Kirk Broadfoot headed the visitors in front in the 63rd minute, only for Hamilton substitute David Templeton to level 10 minutes later.
But veteran striker Boyd had the final say 11 minutes from time when he finished off a flowing move to stretch Kilmarnock's unbeaten run to 11 games and move them to four points behind fourth-placed Hibernian heading into the post-split games.
Hamilton remain ninth, five points clear of bottom-placed Partick Thistle and facing another battle to avoid the drop.
It was a bruising encounter in the early stages and though the visitors had the first sight of goal, Boyd dragged a shot wide.
Accies nearly scored with their first effort of the game after 41 minutes when Darian MacKinnon thundered a shot off the bar from 20 yards.
That galvanised the hosts as they searched for an opener and Rakish Bingham and Lewis Ferguson brought out good saves from Leo Fasan - who was making his league start in place of the injured Jamie MacDonald.
Jordan Jones was fairly quiet in the first half but looked to have the spark that could ignite Kilmarnock in the second and he did just that.
After a couple of efforts on goal he won a free-kick in a dangerous position and when Gary Dicker swung in, Broadfoot headed in from six yards.
Hamilton boss Martin Canning sensed the tide was turning and made a double substitution with Georgios Sarris being replaced by Antonio Rojano and Templeton replacing Ali Crawford.
It proved to be a masterstroke as Templeton notched his eighth goal of the season from a free-kick when his effort went in via the post.
Kilmarnock's response, however, was swift as they restored their lead when Boyd finished off Aaron Simpson's cross following good build-up play.
