The first half in particular was lacking in incident, but there was at least one fine goal from Stephen Dobbie to provide a modicum of entertainment.
Ryan Stevenson began the move from the right with a pass inside to Neil Janczyk, whose lay-off to Dobbie caught the Accies defence cold. With work still to do, the striker took a touch before firing in a precise shot from the edge of the box, leaving David McEwan with no chance.
Accies' best effort of the half came in the 18th minute when Scott Tunbridge shot from 19 yards, although Kevin Cuthbert held his effort quite comfortably.
At the other end, just minutes before half-time Janczyk saw a floated free-kick bounce in the six-yard box only to be missed by defenders and strikers alike.
The second half was better, and Hamilton appeared to panic with every St Johnstone attack. Stevie Thomson almost headed past his own goalkeeper after a Steve Milne cross, but McEwan saved the day.
Saints were unlucky to be denied two penalties in the last 10 minutes when McEwan appeared to foul Milne and Marvyn Wilson went in hard on substitute John Henry.