DAVID Templeton struck a stoppage-time winner to move Hamilton above Partick Thistle and out of the Ladbrokes Premiership bottom two.
The winger netted from close range to give his side a 2-1 victory and move them five points ahead of bottom club Ross County.
The nervy game had lacked much quality apart from a flurry of chances around the 10-minute mark when Antonio Rojano cancelled out Conor Sammon's opener, and in an exciting finale.
Accies had not beaten Thistle since August 2014, and it looked like that run was set to continue after the visitors took the lead in the ninth minute.
After fluffing a clearance for a corner, Hamilton defender Georgios Sarris hauled Danny Devine down in the box, and referee Nick Walsh awarded the penalty. Sammon stepped up and slotted low to the goalkeeper's right – his eighth goal in eight games.
But Hamilton hit back within two minutes after winning a corner, which Dougie Imrie swung in. The ball was met by an unmarked Rojano, who nodded his header across the keeper at the front post.
Thistle had a goal ruled out on the half-hour mark when Kris Doolan was called offside as he headed home Blair Spittal's cross.
Rojano saw a penalty claim turned down after the break but Thistle began to put pressure on as the game neared a conclusion.
Their two best chances for a winner fell to defenders though. Niall Keown blazed over after a low corner bounced in the box and Mustapha Dumbuya saw a low drive smothered well by Gary Woods after good work on the wing from substitute Chris Erskine.
And Hamilton soon made the visitors pay an even heavier price for the misses when Templeton netted on the rebound after Tomas Cerny had stopped Rojano's drive.
Thistle still had time to threaten an equaliser but Woods tipped Erskine's header over the bar.
The victory took Hamilton two points above their visitors with two matches in hand.
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