Hamilton made it five wins in a row with a convincing 4-1 display over league newcomers Elgin City with Michael Moore adding his personal touch by clinching a hat-trick.
Unchanged Hamilton turned early pressure and goal-scoring chances into a 14th minute lead when Moore headed in a David McFarlane cross.
Then four minutes after the break, McFarlane latched on to a Moore pass and was brought down by McDonald and Scott Callaghan fired home the penalty.
Colin Milne sent a 40-yarder curling inches past and on 62 minutes Elgin pulled one back when a Ryan Green header came off the bar and David Ross slotted home the rebound.
With just over a minute to go Moore made it 3-1 with a spectacular diving header to steer an Allan Russell cross into the roof of the net.
Then with the game heading towards time added on as a result of an injury on 81 minutes that saw Ryan Green stretchered off, Hamilton added a fourth. McFarlane was brought down by keeper Pirie and Moore stepped up to slot home the penalty and clinch his hat-trick.