Weakened Hamilton side crash out of Challenge Cup after Ayr raids

Aug 16 2007

A YOUNG Hamilton Accies side made a disappointing first-round exit from the competition against Second Division Ayr United on Tuesday.

Accies boss Billy Reid has always said the winning the league is his priority — even when Hamilton reached the final two years ago — and that showed as he made EIGHT changes from Saturday’s winning line-up at Clyde.

Goalkeeper Bryn Halliwell was brought back in, trialist Nicky Wroe slotted in at right-back, young Grant Evans made his debut, and James Gibson, Tony Stevenson, James McCarthy, Paul McLeod and Kevin Davison were all handed starts by the Accies boss.

Tomas Cerny, David Elebert and Mark Gilhaney were on the bench, while Tom Parratt, Mark McLaughlin, James McArthur, Richard Offiong and captain Alex Neil were completely rested ahead of this weekend’s league match.

Brian Easton, assistant boss Stuart Taylor and striker Neil Teggart retained their places, but Reid was forced to replace all three in the course of the game.

Hamilton started the top tie well, dominated the first half, and grabbed the opening goal in just 17 minutes.

Ayr keeper Barry John Corr made a mess of Stevenson’s corner from the right and Taylor volleyed smartly into the net to continue his scoring mood.

McLeod ‘mugged’ defender Stephen Swift in 24 minutes, but his shot was well held by Corr.

Two minutes later Ayr’s Jerome Vareille capitalised on a Gibson error and swung in a cross that was powerfully headed towards goal by Alex Williams, but Halliwell brilliantly blocked the effort to keep his side in front.

McLeod found Davison in acres of space on the right flank in 37 minutes, and the winger’s chip was tipped just over the top left corner by Corr.

Referee Mike McCurry then controversially awarded Ayr a penalty a minute before the break when Williams released substitute Michael Moore and Brian Easton slid in to clear the danger.

It looked a perfectly good tackle, and outside the box, but McCurry pointed to the spot.

Moore drove his spot-kick to the bottom left corner where it was blocked by Halliwell and cleared — justice was done as far as the Acxcies faiithful were concerned.

Hamilton were clearly cruising through the match but that was to prove their undoing as Ayr caught them napping in 60 minutes — and it was a simple goal.

Williams found space on the right to swing in a cross, and Moore stole in at the near post to slide in an equaliser.

Wroe tried to regain Hamilton’s advantage, but his low powerful drive was well saved by former Motherwell keeper Corr in 64 minutes.

A defensive error gifted Ayr the winner in 76 minutes when Ryan Stevenson robbed sub David Elebert, drew Halliwell, and drilled into the bottom left corner.

Hamilton threw everything at Ayr in a bid to grab an equaliser but Neil Watt’s side held out to march into the next round.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Tony Stevenson.

HAMILTON: Halliwell, Wroe, Gibson, Stevenson, Evans, Easton (Gilhaney, 62), Taylor (Elebert, 55), McCarthy, Teggart (Wake, 45), McLeod, Davison. Subs (not used): Crawford, Cerny.

AYR: Corr, Swift, Pettigrew, Forrest, Robertson, R. Stevenson, Vareille, Weaver (Lowing, 89), Wardlaw (Moore, 36), Williams, Dunn. Subs (not used): Henderson, Casey, McGeown.

Booked: Pettigrew.

Referee: Mike McCurry.