Boss John Rankin hailed Oli Shaw after a stunning seven-minute hat-trick late on helped Hamilton leapfrog Morton – but insisted a big save from Charlie Albinson was just as vital.
Shaw netted one of the fastest trebles in the club’s history, surpassing George McCluskey’s eight-minute effort in 1991 against Clydebank, with quick-fire strikes that left Dougie Imrie’s depleted side floored.
A game that looked to be heading for a drab draw came to life in 77 minutes when Shaw fired home from a Connor Smith free-kick and he then made it 2-0 four minutes later when he poked Sean McGinty’s goal-bound strike into the bottom corner.
He saved the best for last when he got on the end of Reghan Tumilty’s lay-off in 84 minutes and lashed home a fine strike beyond Lewis Budinauckas, who was brought in on an emergency loan from Rangers.
But the game turned on a huge chance for Morton in 68 minutes when Owen Moffat was denied one-on-one by Accies keeper Charlie Albinson.
And Rankin, whose side ended a three-game losing streak to go sixth in the table, said: “To score a hat-trick in seven minutes, it blows people away. Oli’s got pace, he’s got great finishing ability and he can hold it in. That’s why we brought him to the football club.
“This is the first time he’s played that amount of games in a row for three or four seasons. He is beginning to find a rhythm, albeit the last few weeks the chances haven’t fallen his way.
“To be honest, he probably could have had four because he snatched at a chance in the first half as well, but that is me being harsh.
“I thought we were dogged. I didn’t think it was a great game and it could have gone either way.
“Charlie Albinson makes an unbelievable save at 0-0 and that, for me, swings the game in our favour because if they get the first goal, they are hard to break down, they are a stuffy team, so Charlie has to take a lot of credit as well.
“It was big call to put him in goal because Dean [Lyness] has obviously played the last six games, but Charlie paid us back with that save. I’m delighted for him but more so at the fact we were stuffy and we kept a clean sheet.
“We have been punished a lot recently for the opportunities we’ve given away. Last week there was a deflection, a penalty and an own goal so everything went against us. But today things went for us.”
Rankin handed new signing Stuart McKinstry his debut off the bench after signing the free agent ahead of kick-off.
And Rankin added: It is a great signing for us. Having the quality of him, Steven Bradley and Jamie Barjonas off the bench to influence the game was a big moment and ultimately Oli got his opportunities from balls into the box.”
Morton will rue two chances in the first-half with Motherwell loanee Filip Stuperevic hitting the side netting early on and then glancing a header agonisingly wide in 24 minutes, before Moffat’s golden opportunity was spurned after the break.
Gutted Ton gaffer and ex-Accie Dougie Imrie said: “When you concede three goals in seven minutes you don’t deserve to take anything from the game.
“Full credit to Hamilton, they got their goals and took them well, but we had some unbelievable chances. That’s been the story of our season, not taking chances in the big moments and being sucker-punched.
“Charlie makes a fantastic save from Moff and that was the turning point.
“We capitulated at the end of the game and I didn’t see that coming.”