Hamilton Acad 2 Cowdenbeath 1: Four-mile move transforms Page's career prospects

Monday 14 January 2013

JONATHAN PAGE is coming to realise just what he was missing out on.

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Chris Tait

The Hamilton Academical defender was exposed to the vagaries of competitive action again on Saturday, his side coming from behind to claim a win over Cowdenbeath which succeeded in keeping the threat of relegation at arms length. For another week, at least.

It is not the sort of situation which might seem to hold much lustre but Page is not inclined to grumble. Four years at Motherwell heralded just 14 first-team appearances with the rest of his time split between meaningless outings for the reserves and spells spent out on loan. It was a temporary move to Hamilton during the first half of the season – having reprised his role as surplus squad member at Fir Park – which opened him up to the challenges of competing at the wrong end of the Irn-Bru First Division, an environment which sated his appetite to play for something meaningful.The difference in ambitions between Hamilton and their Lanarkshire neighbours is marked. Motherwell will relaunch their league campaign this weekend from third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, but chasing a European spot is hard to enjoy if you never truly feel like you are contributing. Page has certainly played his part in a four-match unbeaten run at his new club, having scored twice in that spell. His latest came against Cowdenbeath and offered his side the incentive to recover all three points."I left it too long to get regular first-team football. It is nearly three seasons ago I was last playing regularly so I am loving it," said Page, whose last consistent run of outings came in a loan move to Stirling Albion in 2010. "I got chances at Motherwell and you feel like you can prove yourself but, looking back on it, I should perhaps have left earlier."Still just 22, it might seem a little arbitrary for Page to criticise himself for hanging around on the periphery at Fir Park but consider the squad he has joined. Hamilton continue to operate with a team that is short on maturity but not experience, the likes of Ali Crawford aged just 21 but already with 69 senior appearances to his name. The lithe midfielder is able to shoulder the expectation on him because of the strength of his talent, although like any young player he is still vulnerable to dips in form. "I feel that the team is far better than the league position suggests but we are where we are," said Page.That sentiment holds sway at Cowdenbeath, too, although it is not supported by recent results. Successfully avoiding relegation will come down to much more than statistics and there was a conviction about the play which led to Kane Hemmings' opening goal, but a run of 15 matches without a victory could cause their spirit to tire."Everyone keeps going on about it," said Lee Makel, the Cowdenbeath assistant manager. "We have had some really good, really positive performances of late. We'll bounce back."

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Hamilton Acad 2 Cowdenbeath 1: Four-mile move transforms Page's career prospects

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