Andy Winter was Hamilton's hero as he earned them a first win in eight attempts as they bagged a narrow victory over 10-man Morton at New Douglas Park.
Winter's fourth goal of the season gave the Lanarkshire side their first league win since October 18 in Inverness, though they were made to work for it by a Morton side that slipped to a second league defeat, having been undefeated in 10 before losing against Partick Thistle last weekend.
Ton's task was made more difficult in 83 minutes when captain Grant Gillespie was sent off for a second booking, as they slipped to a second league defeat on the bounce.
Winter put Hamilton ahead from the spot in 19 minutes but Hamilton had goalkeeper Ryan Fulton to thank for a quite breath-taking save from Jack Baird just after the half-hour.
There otherwise wasn't much between the sides during a half that was played in near-constant torrential rain.
The second half was pretty even, though Winter should have scored his second goal to put the game beyond doubt, before the visitors were reduced to 10 men.
Accies head coach John Rankin made eight changes from the side that beat Clyde 3-2 in the SPFL Trust Trophy quarter-finals on Tuesday night. Fergus Owens, Lewis Smith and Jean-Pierre Tiehi kept their places.
His Morton counterpart Dougie Imrie made one change to the side that lost 2-1 at Partick Thistle on Saturday, as loan signing Ally Roy came in for Jai Quitongo.
Morton started quickly with some slick passing moves, but didn't do anything with it, and it took eight minutes for them to have a shot on goal, with Roy firing high and wide of the right post.
Moments later, Morton went close again when Calvin Miller made his way down the right and cut the ball back to Cameron Blues, but he fired wide of the right post.
Hamilton took the lead through a penalty in 19 minutes, when Dan O'Reilly was hauled down inside the box.
Winter stepped up and smashed the spot-kick past Brian Schwake.
Hamilton nearly doubled their lead in 23 minutes when Matty Shiels picked out Jean-Pierre Tiehi from the left and his shot was arrowing to the bottom right corner until Efe Ambrose got in a timely block.
Morton should have levelled three minutes later when Ambrose picked out Roy, but he blasted well over from a good position.
The visitors nearly drew level in 33 minutes when Miller's cross from the left was headed by Jack Baird, but brilliantly palmed over by Fulton.
Hamilton went close in n38 minutes when Tiehi's header was saved from a Dylan McGowan free kick from the right.
Lucas De Bolle sent Winter through on goal in 54 minutes, but he twisted and turned too many times and in the end his shot was comfortably saved.
Accies should have doubled their lead in 60 minutes when Winter was sent through on goal, but control let him down and Schwake came out smartly to block.
Winter had a shot brilliantly blocked in 68 minutes as Accies searched for a second goal.
He then set up Lewis Smith for a low shot that very nearly crept in at the left corner.
Morton's task was made harder in 83 minutes when former Accies midfielder Gillespie received a second booking.
Doyle was lucky to escape what looked like a push inside the box in 87 minutes.
Sub Alex King went on a mazy run in 90 minutes, but Fulton again saved brilliantly, and he dived low to his left to deny Miller in the dying seconds.
HAMILTON: Fulton, Owens, O'Reilly, McGowan, Shiels, De Bolle, Martin (Doyle, 86), Sparrow, Winter (Zanatta, 90+3), L. Smith (Ryan, 78), Tiehi.
Subs (not used): J. Smith (GK), Easton, McGinn, One, Forsyth, Black.
Booked: Martin (51)
MORTON: Schwake, Grimshaw, Baird, Ambrose (O'Connor, 72), Strapp (King, 72), Blues, Gillespie, Crawford, Roy (Quitongo 62), Muirhead, Miller.
Subs (not used): Green (GK), Pignatiello, McGrattan, McGarrity, Lithgow.
Sent off: Gillespie (83)
Booked: Gillespie (27), Strapp (56), Muirhead (89)
Referee: Duncan Williams.
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