Craig Conway celebrated the opener with his team-mates
Dundee United sealed a top six-slot in the Scottish Premier League with a narrow victory over Hamilton Accies.
Craig Conway's fourth-minute opener separated the sides after he struck a cross-come-shot from close-range past Hamilton goalkeeper Tomas Cerny.
A double attempt on goal in the 22nd minute by United's James Wesolowski and Prince Buaben were thwarted by Cerny.
James McCarthy could have scored with a late chance but drove the ball straight at United's Lucas Zaluska.
With a place in the top half of the SPL still up for grabs, Craig Levein's side were keen to record their first victory in four matches and capitalise on Billy Reid's side having failed to win a match since February.
Conway netted an unlikely opener in the fourth minute after latching on to a Fransisco Sandaza pass out on the right-hand side of the Hamilton penalty area.
The former Ayr United man fired across the face of goal past Cerny to give United an early lead.
United almost doubled their lead when Sandaza volleyed in from 12 yards out, but Cerny blocked and Scott Robertson failed to score on the rebound.
United's Lee Wilkie was fortunate to avoid a red card when he up-ended McCarthy in the middle of the pitch with a fierce tackle that flattened the Irish international.
Moments later, a double attempt on goal by United's James Wesolowski and Prince Buaben were thwarted yet again by Cerny.
Wilkie powered into the box and should have scored but sent an awkward header over the bar from a set-piece.
Paul Dixon worked down to the Hamilton goal-line and fired in a delightful cross, but Andis Shala headed the ball off the bar and out for a goal-kick.
Hamilton struggled to gain a foothold on the match, a brief period of pressure towards the end of the first half aside, and were fortunate not to be trailing by a bigger margin during the break.
McCarthy tested Zaluska with an 18-yard drive, but the Polish stopper deflected the danger.
United continued to look the stronger side and Conway should have done more with a 58th-minute free-kick that went wide of the post.
Sandaza fired in another effort from close range, but it lacked power and Cerny was never really under any significant threat.
The match slowed to a frustratingly slow pace in the final 30 minutes, although Robertson latched on to a Dixon pass in 70th minute and failed to strike past Cerny.
Trent McClenahan nutmegged two United players to send in a neat cross, only for Derek Asamoah to miss from six yards out.
United continued to seek their second goal of the day with both Buaben and Wesolowski failing to find the target.
Hamilton's James McArthur pushed on to his favoured left foot inside the United penalty area with a late chance but drove the ball straight into the arms of Zaluska.
In the fourth minute of injury time, McCarthy could have snatched a point for Hamilton with a close-range effort but was denied when he hit the ball straight at the United keeper.
Hamilton manager Billy Reid:
"We didn't play well in the first half and we were out-muscled in the middle of the park.
"They were the better side and could have been two or three up at half time.
"We got a reaction, but we never played the way we can play - we never looked sharp, but we had chances.
"We had chances late on from McCarthy and McArthur, so I said to the players we have to start taking those chances."
Dundee United manager Craig Levein:
"If we had taken our chances, it would have been six or seven, but it was a real tester for us today.
"We were excellent in the first half and we dominated, and we controlled in the second half, but you can't go through 90 minutes without the opposition having a little spell.
"But it wasn't until the last five minutes they put us under pressure, but we coped with that.
"We didn't need Lucas Zaluska today, and that's the sign of a good goalkeeper - he manages to keep his concentration and he's improving rapidly.
"The problem is that he's not ours next season, he's someone else's.
"I just hope for his sake that he manages to play every week, because I think he can develop further."
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?