Ahkeem Rose became the first player for Hamilton Accies to score a hat-trick on the road in more than ten years, and manager John Rankin praised him for it.
The Ayr United loanee netted his treble in Saturday’s 5-0 demolition of Kelty Hearts in Fife, where Jake Davidson and Reghan Tumilty were also on target to end a run of four games without a win in League One.
Since Stevie May scored all three of Accie’s goals in a 3-0 victory over Livingston in April 2013, this is the first time the team has accomplished the feat while travelling.
Since arriving in January, Rose has scored five goals. Last month, in a 3-2 loss to Falkirk, the Jamaican striker scored twice. Rankin has given Rose a lot of credit.
“Ahkeem was the focal point for a lot of things on Saturday,” the speaker stated.
We performed incredibly well by getting him through the middle, where he can cause the opposition a lot of problems.
“He executed his first goal really well, his second goal was the result of a set-play, to which he responded well in the second half, and his third goal was an extremely skillful move.
As soon as we brought him in during the January window, we were aware of his potential. He has good movement, enjoys playing on the final defender, and on Saturday, he most definitely demonstrated those traits. He is an apex predator.
“I find it pleasing that they have a variety of finishes.”
“He is in the right place at the right time, but it’s not just about that; it’s also about how he creates space for himself by putting himself between defenders at that precise moment.
“Finding room in the six-yard box is challenging, but he succeeds.”
Rankin continued, “He is yet to score a home goal so that is his challenge right now. All of his goals have come on the road thus far.
“It’s about him striving to do more and not getting too comfortable.”
Within three minutes, Davidson headed home a Connor Murray corner to give Accies the lead.
After a cross from Marley Redfern, Rose opened the scoring fifteen minutes later with a strike inside the six-yard box. Another corner from Murray set up Rose’s second goal, and Accies’ third in thirty-two minutes.
Tumilty headed in a cross from Ben Williamson four minutes into the second half, making it 4-0. In the sixty-fourth minute, Rose finished his hat-trick and the rout by tapping in a cross from Kevin O’Hara.
This keeps Accies in second place in the standings, 17 points behind leaders Falkirk.
“We have had opportunities to score in the previous games and have not taken them,” Rankin stated.
“However, we scored early on Saturday, which calmed everyone down and allowed us to go on.”
• In the meantime, after Accies owner Seref Zengin made an offer to buy New Douglas Park from its present owners, Edencrest Limited, the club decided not to move forward.
After a £3–4 million bid was made last week, Accies had hoped to find out by now whether the acquisition had gone through.
