THERE were more freak injuries at the Hope CBD stadium yesterday than an average episode of Casualty but Oli Shaw’s second half winner was just what the doctor ordered by Hibs and Neil Lennon. The Easter Road side had gone seven matches without a win prior to yesterday but this was the perfect remedy to their recent woes. Not in such rude health yesterday were the no fewer than three goalkeepers who left the fray at various points due to injury, plus Hibs’ Martin Boyle, who was rushed to hospital yesterday afternoon with concussion after colliding with one of them, Hamilton’s Gary Woods. Lennon walked onto the pitch with a look of concern as play was stopped for nearly seven minutes while Boyle was given medical attention.

This was certainly one of the more eventful afternoons in the life of Jacob Marsden, Hamilton Accies’ third-choice keeper. Initially scheduled only for a seat in the stands, no sooner had he finished warming up with the club’s other goalkeepers than he was being informed that Jan Much had tweaked a quad and he was being bumped up to a place on the bench. Within 45 minutes, with Mucha’s replacement as No 1, Woods, buffeted by both Florian Kamberi and the luckless Boyle during that first period, he was informed that he would be coming on in the second half to make his full senior debut. Having made no fewer than five fine saves during that second period from the likes of Kamberi, Shaw and Emerson Hyndman, you would have been hearing a lot more about young Marsden right now were it not for the fact that Shaw’s fine striker’s finish from a cross from substitute Daryl Horgan left him helpless.

Hibs assistant manager Garry Parker, standing in again on post-match duties for Lennon, admitted the victory had lifted a huge weight from the club’s shoulders. He too had lost the services of the goalkeeper he had named pre-match, with Adam Bogdan sustaining a groin injury in the warm-up to be replaced by Ofir Marciano. While he said it was too early to say his side had turned the corner just yet – they face Celtic at Easter Road on Sunday – he praised the contribution of his substitutes Horgan and Emerson Hyndman – back for his first match since in a month. He also said Kamberi, who had been singled out for criticism after the 2-2 draw with St Mirren, had responded well.

“The win is so important, just to give you confidence going forward,” said Parker. “It is a big weight off our minds. “They’ll feel better about themselves now, of course they will. When you’re not getting results week after week it’s a case of sleepless nights – I’ve been having them, I tell you. Today we go away happy because we’ve won the game but we know there’s still a long way to go. We are happy with the points but we could have scored more I think.”

While Hibs stay eighth – albeit a point behind Aberdeen now – Hamilton remain four points clear of the relegation zone. They might have had more from this game had James Keatings converted Mickel Miller’s low cross just before half time rather than nudged it wide. “Keats’ one was a great chance and we have got to take those opportunities,” said manager Martin Canning. “When you are doing well and get clear-cut chances you’ve got to score.

“Jan felt his quad in the warm-up and I didn’t want to take a chance because repetitive kicking would have made it worse and he would have been out longer,” added Canning. “Woodsy was very good first half and took a sore one on the knee and it swelled up and stiffened up at half-time. Young Jacob come in and did well. He was meant to be in the stand then he’s making his debut in the Premiership. That’s football, it can change so quickly. He made some good saves and can go home pleased with his performance.”