Kilmarnock squeezed past Hamilton into the Betfred Cup quarter-finals with an extra-time strike by Dom Thomas.
After a goalless stalemate in 90 minutes this close-fought contest seemed destined to go to penalties until Thomas struck in the 113th minute.
The sub had only been on the pitch for eight minutes having replaced Chris Burke, when Greg Taylor’s cross from the left found the striker in space at the far post.
At first it seemed the chance would go begging as he struggled to get control on the slick surface made treacherous by a recent heavy thunderstorm.
But he stabilised in the nick of time to poke home the finish from a tight angle and sneak the home side into the last eight of the competition.
Both teams had their chances during the 90 minutes but vital interventions at both ends by Killie defender Stuart Findlay and Hamilton stopper Sam Stubbs denied golden chances for George Oakley and Eamonn Brophy.
Kilmarnock had also screamed for a 72nd minute penalty for a handball against Aaron McGowan on the edge of the Accies box, but referee Kevin Clancy quickly ruled that the ball had struck the stopper’s chest.
Then two late chances - McGowan’s low piledriver turned away by Killie keeper Laurentiu Brandescu and Brophy blocked at the back post by Jamie Hamilton - summed up an afternoon of frustration in front of goal.
Extra-time was more of the same with Marios Ogkmpoe too slow to react as the Branescu’s touch on Mikel Miller’s cross trickled across the gaping goal.
But in the second half of extra-time Thomas put himself in the right place at the right time to save the day for the home side.
3 talking points
Killie not out the woods yet
They made it through in the end but there was no escaping the growing frustration in the Rugby Park stands about this new regime. Progressing eases some pressure on Angelo Alessio but he still has much work to do to win over a fan base that could easily have turned on him had they not won this one.
Hamilton seem a safe bet to stay up
There’s a positivity in Hamilton Accies’ style of play so far in this campaign. Clearly the optimism of manager Brian Rice is rubbing off on his reinvented squad. They have a good mix of youth and experience, are not afraid to play a bit and, crucially, are solid at the back. They’ll be fine this year.
Stable Stubbs
Young Sam Stubbs is the image of his father Alan out there and he certainly seems a chip off the old block on the strength of this assured performance at the back for Hamilton.
His vital block denied Eamonn Brophy the opener early in the second half but throughout the 20-year-old loanee from Middlesbrough looked the part.
