Jon Obika's first goal of the season was enough to give St Mirren a second win from three at the start of the 2020/21 season.
The forward's first-half effort secured a 1-0 win for Jim Goodwin's men at the Foys Stadium.
Saints started brightly winning a corner inside the first 60 seconds. It was Joe Shaughnessy who met the resultant corner with Accies goalkeeper Ryan Fulton doing well to turn away.
Accies then threatened with David Templeton testing Jak Alnwick on four minutes before Scott Martin's deflected shot fell into the path of David Moyo on 10 minutes but the striker's effort was held at the second attempt by the Saints goalkeeper.
Shaughnessy went close again on 15 minutes with the Hamilton defence just managing to clear his effort from a corner.
Saints took the lead four minutes later when Obika scored his first goal since the final game of last season. The Hamilton defence couldn't clear a ball into their box and it fell kindly to Richard Tait at the far right hand of the Hamilton box. The defender sent the ball low across to find Obika who touched home to get off the mark for the season.
Saints were well in control at this point and could have found a second when Kyle McAllister's strike from the left-hand side was deflected just wide of Fulton's left-hand post before ex-Saint Lee Hodson's vital interception denied the St Mirren number 10 again. McAllister's powerful left-footed effort looking primed for the bottom corner of the Hamilton net but Hodson's touch managed to divert.
Fulton made a brilliant save to deny the Buddies a second on 35 minutes. Junior Morias' initial attempt from the edge of the area was blocked by Hakeem Odoffin but fell to the forward again who shifted his feet and cracked a strike towards the top corner with Fulton at full stretch to touch over.
Morias should have made it two just three minutes to half-time. Marcus Fraser played a brilliant low ball into the feet of the unmarked striker but he scooped over.
Hamilton started the stronger after the break with Alnwick having to make a terrific save less than a minute after the restart to deny Ross Callachan. The Accies midfielder had another good chance moments later but screwed wide from close range.
Alnwick again made good stops with his feet to deny Andy Winter and Scott McMann in the 66th and 77th minute as the home side pushed for a leveller.
Saints had struggled to get a foothold in the second-half but could have wrapped the game up with 12 minutes to go. Morias found substitute Ilkay Durmus with a lovely pass but Fulton was down quickly to hold the Turkish winger's low drive.
Durmus had another strike which he sent into the arms of the Hamilton goalkeeper as the game entered it's final minute, but Obika's first-half strike proved to be enough to see all three points return to Paisley.
Full-Time: Hamilton Academical 0-1 St Mirren
St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Foley (c), Shaughnessy, Tait, MacPherson, Sheron, McGrath, K.McAllister (Durmus 61), Morias, Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Urminsky, Baird, Erhahon, Henderson, Thorvaldsson, Jack, Jamieson
Hamilton: Fulton, Odoffin, McMann (c), Martin, Hodson, Templeton, Callachan (Mimnaugh 81), L.Smith (Johnson 55), Want, Winter, Moyo (Ogkmpoe 55)
Subs Not Used: Gourlay, Hamilton,Trafford, Fjorttoft, Munro, C.Smith
Referee: Steven Kirkland
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeillie
Fourth Official: Don Robertson
