The return to New Douglas Park of Ross McCabe, who almost suffered a fatal injury against Clyde, was well received by the home support, although the emotional boost of such an appearance did not see to sink in for the home side.
The first half lacked the sort of aesthetic quality you would hope your hard-earned cash would pay for, with both teams insistent on testing the aerodynamic quality of the match day football, with the ball spending more time in the Earth's atmosphere than Buzz Aldrin.
Accies had a great chance to open the scoring after nine minutes when Richard Offiong burst through on goal, but Barry John Corr raced out to smother the striker's shot.
The former Motherwell striker did have the ball in the net midway through the first half as he latched on to a clinical through ball from Scott Agnew to neatly tuck his shot into the bottom corner from 16 yards.
Accies looked to have a valid claim for a penalty in the 30th minute when Agnew floated a ball to the back post with Offiong lurking menacingly.
Veteran defender Jim Thompson appeared to use an arm to clear the ball from the striker's path, but referee Stephen Finnie was not interested in the claim.
David Jellema pulled off a save of world-class quality on the stroke of half-time from a measured shot curled towards goal by Willie Gibson. The keeper reached up to pluck the ball out of the top corner as it seemed destined for the back of the net.
Accies relief at Jellema's acrobatics were misplaced as the entire defence fell asleep, allowing Gibson to centre for John O'Neill to power his header into the back of the net.
The Doonhammers almost capitalised immediately from Easton's sending-off as Des McCaffrey rattled the crossbar from the resultant free-kick.
Accies settled into a defensive formation, giving a professional debut to 15-year-old midfielder James McCarthy, who had to seek his headmaster's permission to play in the match.
Ian McCall's side did manage to forge one gilt-edged chance as O'Neill waltzed through the home defence, but the midfielder's shot bobbled back off the post with Jellema rooted to the spot.