Peterhead finally returned to league action this weekend after an unexpected hiatus, welcoming Hamilton Academical to Balmoor. The Blue Toon were hoping to make a winning start to 2026, and bounce back from the disappointing 4-0 defeat to Cove Rangers before the New Year. The visitors were also coming into this one off the back of a heavy defeat, losing 4-1 to Queen of the South last time out.
There was one change to the lineup that started against Cove three weeks ago, with Andy McCarthy returning from suspension and replacing Danny Strachan.
Peterhead started brightly and had a big opportunity to take the lead early on. A chance from Shanks was not cleared by the Accies defence and fell kindly for Craig McGuffie in the penalty area, but the midfielder saw his shot saved by Jamie Smith in goal. The visitors then went up the other end minutes later and took the lead. A ball in behind the Peterhead defence was chased down by O’Hara, who slotted the ball into the Blue Toon net on 10 minutes.
They were not in front for long, however. Practically straight from the restart, Craig McGuffie drove through the Hamilton midfield before sliding a ball into behind for Kieran Shanks. The striker took the ball into stride before executing a perfect finish into the bottom corner with the outside of his right boot.
Both sides settled into their rhythm as the half grew on, with Peterhead enjoying the majority of possession and Accies looking to pose a threat on the counter-attack. Jack Newman made a couple of fine saves to keep the scores level, first scrambling across his goal to deny Bradley a tap-in at the back post, then diving down to his right to palm away an effort from Hutton just after the half hour mark. Peterhead also came close to going ahead on a couple of occasions. Max Barry curled an effort just over the bar from 25 yards out, and right on half-time Kieran Shanks flashed an effort into the side netting from a tight angle, but no more goals for either side yet.
Half-time: Peterhead 1-1 Hamilton Academical
The Blue Toon again came out the traps well in the second half, McGuffie once again going close early doors. His effort from the edge of the area took a nick off of a Hamilton defender which diverted it just past the post and out for a corner. There was then a big chance for Jack Brown to find a goal at the back post on 56 minutes. Seb Ross showed great skill to beat his man on the left wing, before fizzing a ball across the box to Brown. Accies’ stopper Smith got across just in time to deny Brown from point blank range.
Moments later, the visitors took the lead once again. Bradley managed to work himself a shooting opportunity on the edge of the Peterhead area, and fired an effort with his left foot across goal and into the bottom corner. Peterhead once again found themselves behind, and changes were made to try and bring themselves back into the game. Two of these changes saw Danny Strachan and Niall McGinn enter the game, and the pair combined for the equaliser with 10 minutes to go. Good play down the right hand side led to a pinpoint cross from Strachan, finding McGinn unmarked at the back post to drill home Peterhead’s second.
Danny Strachan then came so close to turning from provider to goalscorer in the last minute of the 90. More excellent build up play in the wide area created another cut-back opportunity to the back post, and Strachan arrived right on time. He looked to have scored the winner, but his attempt drifted agonisingly wide of the post. Hamilton’s winner then came in the third minute of additional time. A cross from Hendrie right in front of the travelling supporters on the left flank took a wicked deflection, looping the ball up into the air and over the head of the helpless Jack Newman and into the net. A sickening blow for Peterhead, who will now face the tough task of travelling to Links Park to face the on-form team in the league, Montrose, next Saturday.
Full-time: Peterhead 2-3 Hamilton Academical
