ALEX NEIL hailed Hamilton's fighting spirit as they edged a five-goal thriller against Raith Rovers last night to keep up the pressure on Championship leaders Dundee.

Goals from Tony Andreu, James Keatings and Jason Scotland clinched a dramatic win in an topsy-turvy clash at New Douglas Park that saw the hosts come from behind and score with the last kick of the ball to clinch the three points.

Hamilton remain just a point off top spot in the Championship following the Dees' narrow win at home to Queen of the South and boss Neil said: "If you are going to win something, that is the way to do it. It was really entertaining.

"There was poor defending and not as much good play but we had heart, guts and determination, everything it takes to be successful.

"I thought the team showed that and we fought right to the end.

"It is not the first time we have done it, we have done it three or four times this season and that can only be good for the group. You can see the boys' reaction after the game and how delighted we were.

"We know how much it means and we have worked so hard to get ourselves into this position the last thing we want to do is throw it away."

There was little sign of the goal drama that would follow in the early exchanges as Accies controlled possession but struggled to make it count in the final third as Raith were pinned back for large swathes of the first half.

It was the visitors who would take the lead, however, John Baird finishing well after collecting Calum Elliot's pass as Grant Murray's side went route one to great effect just before the break.

Accies finally got the breakthrough after 65 minutes, Andreu's effort taking a deflection on its way into the net and kicking off a remarkable few minutes of action.

The home crowd were barely done celebrating Hamilton's second of the night after Keatings headed home at the back post before Baird completed his brace, the third goal in four minutes, bringing Rovers level and setting up an end-to-end finale as both teams searched for a winner.

It would arrive in the final seconds as Accies clinched a dramatic triumph, Scotland firing home from the edge of the box to send the New Douglas Park crowd wild.

Iain Davidson was the Dundee hero. His header from a free-kick after 58 minutes was the only goal of the game against Queen of the South.