Hamilton Accies hero Steven Bradley not satisfied with double in win over Queen's Park
Steven Bradley bagged a deadly double to end Hamilton's three-game losing streak but admits he regrets not being able to bag his first career hat-trick.
The midfielder turned in a man of the match display with a third minute strike and a stunning 25 yard free-kick eight minutes before the break, which came either side of a Zak Rudden penalty, to earn all three points against Queen's Park.
However, injury forced him off after 67 minutes and he was left gutted that he didn't try harder earlier in the game to grab his first treble.
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He said: "I came in at half-time and I was thinking 'I could get my first career hat-trick here'.
"The way the game was going, I was feeling confident about it. There was a free-kick in the second half in a wide area that I was going to try a shot but I crossed it in instead. Looking back, I should have just gone for it because I then took a knock and I was gutted about that.
"I got dropped last week so this week I trained really well and got myself back in the team. I obviously wanted to try and make a statement to show the gaffer that I want to keep my place in the team, so I'm delighted the free-kick went in.
"They can go either way - into row Z or into the top corner - and thankfully it went in the net.
"I have not had the best of starts since joining in the summer, I know that myself, so to get two goals and the win is a brilliant feeling."
Bradley netted after just three minutes when he slotted home in the box from Kyle MacDonald's lay-off.
Spiders levelled in 16 minutes when Rudden netted from the spot after Stephen Hendrie pulled down Jack Turner to the ground as he burst into the box.
But in 37 minutes Bradley curled an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner to bag the winner.
In the second half, Accies defended resolutely until the 88th minute when Turner saw a header hit the post and Rudden smacked the bar with a strike from distance, but they held on for the win.
Bradley, whose side travels to leaders Falkirk next, added: "I thought everyone was great. We pressed them really well and got the goals.
"We gave away a cheap penalty, which was obviously disappointing after such a good start, and that put us back a wee bit.
"But we bounced back and got that second goal. The boys defended the box brilliantly and they helped us get the three points.
"We can build on this and take it to Falkirk. We know how good they can be but, on our day, we can be just as good as anybody in this league. It is just about showing that more consistently now."
