ALEX NEIL scored his first goal in more than five years as Hamilton cruised past Airdrie to maintain their progress up the table.

The home side missed a sackful of chances, but Louis Longridge, Neil and Jonathan Page netted to secure a win that lifted them to seventh.

Billy Reid, the Hamilton manager, said: "I think it is fair to say we are a very different side from the one that started the season. We are a work in progress but anyone who plays us now will know that they are in for a game.

"It was a great team performance and missing the chances we did does not worry me too much as they all came about through great play."

Early on, Marc Warren tested Kevin Cuthbert in the home goal with a low shot, before Airdrie's Grant Adam made a fine one-handed save from Conner McGlinchey.

Adam was less assured on 15 minutes when Steven May let fly from 20 yards and Longridge pounced on the spilled shot to side-foot in.

Accies' second followed eight minutes later when Ali Crawford's free-kick from the left found Neil at the back post and the midfielder volleyed home.

The captain almost doubled his tally a few minutes later, his shot from 20 yards rebounding off the bar. Josh Watt missed a good chance to bring Airdrie back into the game before Longridge shot against Adam with the goal gaping after Crawford beat the offside trap.

Page headed in Hamilton's third 10 minutes into the second half, rising to meet a Crawford corner.

As Hamilton dominated the closing stages, Adam denied May by keeping out both his header and a close-range strike.

Jimmy Boyle, the Airdrie manager, said: "It was a poor performance and I am disappointed with the lack of spirit shown. We created chances but overall it was not good enough."

ALEX NEIL scored his first goal in more than five years as Hamilton cruised past Airdrie to maintain their progress up the table.

The home side missed a sackful of chances, but Louis Longridge, Neil and Jonathan Page netted to secure a win that lifted them to seventh.

Billy Reid, the Hamilton manager, said: "I think it is fair to say we are a very different side from the one that started the season. We are a work in progress but anyone who plays us now will know that they are in for a game.

"It was a great team performance and missing the chances we did does not worry me too much as they all came about through great play."

Early on, Marc Warren tested Kevin Cuthbert in the home goal with a low shot, before Airdrie's Grant Adam made a fine one-handed save from Conner McGlinchey.

Adam was less assured on 15 minutes when Steven May let fly from 20 yards and Longridge pounced on the spilled shot to side-foot in.

Accies' second followed eight minutes later when Ali Crawford's free-kick from the left found Neil at the back post and the midfielder volleyed home.

The captain almost doubled his tally a few minutes later, his shot from 20 yards rebounding off the bar. Josh Watt missed a good chance to bring Airdrie back into the game before Longridge shot against Adam with the goal gaping after Crawford beat the offside trap.

Page headed in Hamilton's third 10 minutes into the second half, rising to meet a Crawford corner.

As Hamilton dominated the closing stages, Adam denied May by keeping out both his header and a close-range strike.

Jimmy Boyle, the Airdrie manager, said: "It was a poor performance and I am disappointed with the lack of spirit shown. We created chances but overall it was not good enough."