HAMILTON boss Billy Reid today vowed that his title- chasing Accies will not buckle in the final furlong of the Irn-Bru First Division title race.

Accies needed a last- minute James McCarthy strike to salvage a point at Palmerston Park where Queen of the South held them to a 2-2 draw.

But with second-placed Dundee edging St Johnstone in a five-goal Tayside derby thriller, the New Douglas Park side have had their lead at the top cut to two points.

Reid, though, is adamant his boys are made of the title stuff. He fired: "I have to give tremendous credit to the boys as they kept it going right to the death.

"There can be no question marks over our commitment or hunger and it got us a vital point.

"But we went to Queens and had a right go. This was not a case of sitting in and looking for a point.

"Although we're disappointed to have dropped two points, we can have no complaints."

The Accies boss admitted that he had taken a risk in unleashing teen sub and injury doubt McCarthy 10 minutes from time.

Reid said: "Playing James was a risk, but one that eventually paid off for us big time.

"He was carrying a knock and wasn't even in my squad, but he came through for us when we needed him to."

Meanwhile, Morton climbed out of the relegation play-off place with a hard-fought 2-1 win at bottom dogs Stirling Albion.

The Ton had strikes from Allan Jenkins and Iain Russell either side of the break to thank for a vital three points.

Relieved Greenock boss Davie Irons said: "This was a big, big win for us. The only thing that mattered was the result and we have now moved eight points clear of Stirling and are now two above Clyde in second bottom.

"Psychologically, these three points have given us a huge boost. It was also our first home win since October and that gets a big monkey off our backs."

Gutted Binos' boss Allan Moore said: "It's a sore one for us to take, but the bottom line is Morton took their chances and we didn't."