Hamilton head coach Stuart Taylor commended youth academy trio Chris McGinn, Adam McGowan and Lewis Smith after a 2-0 SPFL Trust Trophy win over Aberdeen 'B.'
17-year-old McGowan was making his first start for the club and Aberdeen midfielder Dean Campbell's foul on him in the first half reduced Aberdeen to 10 men.
McGowan scored the opener shortly afterwards before Kyle Munro added a second after half-time to move Hamilton into the last eight of the competition.
Taylor was delighted with his side's endeavour after carrying his pre-match thoughts into the match.
"I was pleased with the way we started," said Taylor. "We asked them to come flying out the traps and they did that. We talked to them a lot about how we were going to play.
"I thought the lads were terrific. I was delighted with the two goals from the younger ones. I am really happy with how we played.
"The game opened up for us and if we knew if we played a certain way, then we would get chances."
Smith came off the bench at half-time and created numerous chances, hitting the post with one eye-catching shot.
McGowan's first senior goal pleased Taylor while left-back McGinn's work behind the winger made Hamilton's head coach just as happy.
"Lewis Smith was really good for us when he came on," he said. "He can hammer a ball and he is a willing runner. He will commit someone in the opposition's defence. So I was really pleased.
"Both McGowan and McGinn were playing on the same side and I thought they both did very well. Chrissy was solid defensively and was aiming to be creative in the final third.
"He was comfortably enough to do that which was good to see. Then Adam got his goal and he looked lively. He's looked that way in training. The two did very, very well."
Campbell's sending off was a turning point in the match but Taylor believes the right call was made - as not sending off the Aberdeen youngster would have been wrong.
"It's part of the kid's development," said Taylor. "If you don't send him off, then I think that is wrong.
"Our player was straight through on goal. They are in this tournament for the learning and development of their kids.
"The kid has learned something. You can't bring someone down when they are through on goal - that's the rules. The referee has done his job. It's a learning curve and the kid will learn from it.
"But Aberdeen did well in spells afterwards and made it difficult for us to break them down. So I thought they showed positives too."
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