Accies 1-0 win over Lanarkshire rivals Airdrie allowed the New Douglas Park club to take sole possession of second place in the league table, nine points behind leaders St Mirren.
Airdrie did not turn up to make up the numbers, however, and put in a gritty performance that may have been lacking in aesthetic qualities but provided the gusto that the Diamonds fans demanded.
Hamilton almost got off to a dream start in the tie when debut striker Rudy Torres was played clean through on goal after only 40 seconds, but the Spaniard fired narrowly wide form 20 yards when he really should have composed himself and tested Stephen Robertson in the Airdrie goal from closer range.
Airdrie were not rattled and quickly fought back. They should have taken the lead three minutes later when a cross from Brian McPhee was met by league top scorer Bryan Prunty, but the ex-Aberdeen striker could only head wide from 10 yards.
Scott McKenzie came close to celebrating signing for Hamilton on a permanent basis in the January window when his stinging drive from 25 yards flew just wide of the upright.
It was Mark McLaughlin who became the unlikely goal hero for Accies after 25 minutes as the burly defender raced across his marker to head home Derek Fleming's corner with James McArthur trying his best to claim the goal as his own on the line.
Accies almost doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when McKenzie's header looked net bound only for former Accie Brian McPhee to clear off the line.
The game deteriorated as a spectacle in the second half with the ball seeming to spend a lot of time in orbit rather than being played on the ground.
Rudy Torres was presented with another gilt-edged chance to score on his debut in the 53rd minute as he latched on to a Brian Carrigan through ball, but the big Spaniard lobbed his effort over the bar when he really should have done better.
Airdrie managed to carve out a couple of half chances in the closing stages of the game with both Martin Hardie and Stephen McKeown trying their luck from long range but could not find a way past David McEwan in the Accies goal, who kept another clean sheet for the club.