Kilmarnock, Scotland (My Sportsbook) - Hamilton took another big step towards safety on Sunday as Richard Offiong's goal one minute into the second half was enough to give the club a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

The result takes Hamilton nine points clear of last-place Inverness, and they are now only four points from a spot in the top six. The club has now won four of its last five games and has yielded just one goal during that stretch.

Killie has earned only one point from its last four games and is level on points with Hamilton.

Hamilton was on top from the start as Killie goalkeeper Alan Combe was forced to tip Mark McLaughlin's deflected shot around the post, while a giveaway by defender James Fowler nearly handed the visitors the lead.

Fowler lost possession to James McCarthy near midfield and he fed a pass to Offiong, who tried to chip the ball over the keeper's head. Combe got a hand to the shot and McCarthy followed up the play by smashing the rebound off the post.

The teams entered halftime on level terms, but it didn't take long for Hamilton to go ahead with Paul McGowan's corner kick being knocked home at the near post by Offiong.

Killie's attack finally showed some life in the last 15 minutes, but goalkeeper Tomas Cerny's net was not really threatened as the hosts were unable to put a quality chance on net.