Ross Cunningham marked his first Hamilton start with a double as Accies grabbed a bonus-point win against Partick Thistle with a 6-5 penalty shootout victory following a 2-2 draw.
The 21-year-old had previously appeared 17 times off the bench but rewarded home boss Brian Rice’s decision to start him as he cancelled out Ryan Williamson’s opener before curling home a stunning second.
Accies now close to within one point of Gary Caldwell’s leaders with one game to play – but the result came at a cost for Rice after Ronan Hughes and Brian Easton both went off injured.
Thistle struck first after McGowan’s 16th-minute blunder allowed Williamson to loft a delicate finish over Fon Williams.
But Jags’ celebrations were curtailed 60 seconds later when Cunningham turned in the box and drove into the bottom corner.
The midfielder was placed in a brace as a precaution before being taken off on a stretcher – with Easton then going off nine after rolling an ankle during the nine-minute long period of added time.
Thistle levelled up with quarter of an hour left as Gordon converted from Lewis Mansell’s delivery – but Hamilton blew the chance to retake command almost immediately when McGowan skied a penalty after Sean McGinty dragged down George Oakley.
