Accies 4 Ayr United 1: CIS Insurance Cup Round 1: 17 August 2004

CIS Insurance Cup Round 1

New Douglas Park, Hamilton, 17 August 2004

Report by Gilbert Mowat

With Accies facing a vital league match against Partick Thistle at the weekend, manager Allan Maitland took the opportunity to leave out key players Brian Carrigan and Mark McLaughlin to give them time to fully recover from injury. Todd Lumsden also replaced Robert Walker at right back as Mark Corcoran and Stevie Convery started the game up front.

It was obvious from the start that Ayr really fancied the prospect of a cup tie at Rugby Park in the next round and they controlled the opening stages. A couple of tasty crosses fizzed across the penalty area but they missed that vital touch in the middle. They came quite close when Dave McEwan got down well to save a low shot.

Having weathered the early storm, Accies began to take control with Derek Ferguson in great form in the middle of the park and Mark Corcoran outstanding on the left. Corky should have opened the scoring after 22 minutes when a fine through ball sent him clear on the left. As he went into the area with only Ludovic Roy to beat, he elected to square the ball to Stevie Convery rather than shoot himself (if you know what I mean!). The ball was intercepted by a defender and went out for a corner. There was no time to regret the miss, as Stevie Thomson headed home Corcoran's corner seconds later. Big Steish really enjoyed the goal too.

Accies were buzzing now and they extended their lead with a rather jammy goal 11 minutes later. This time it was a good cross into the area from Scott Tunbridge that was nodded on by Pat Keogh to Stevie Convery, whose audacious flick with his heel sent the ball looping over Ludovic Roy and into the net. Accies were really enjoying themselves now and although they dominated the remainder of the half there were to be no further goals.

The fans didn't have to wait long in the second half for Accies to extend their lead with the best goal of the game. A great passing move was started by a piece of sublime skill in the middle of the park by Mark Corcoran. He beat a couple of men before giving the ball to Derek Ferguson. Fergie knocked the ball wide to Scott Tunbridge. The young Aussie skinned the defender before sending over a beautiful cross to the back post, where Stevie Convery dived to head it past the exposed Roy. It was a cracking goal.

With the game effectively over, you would have expected Accies to drop a gear or two. They did do that, but not before Stevie Convery added a fourth goal to complete his hat trick. This time the ball was cut back to him at an angle 15 yards out and his low shot was too powerful for Roy and he allowed it to pass through his arms and trundle over the line. It wasn't a classic, but at long last after 3 full seasons, we got the chance to celebrate a hat trick by an Accies man at the new stadium.

Allan Maitland then made a few changes with Derek Ferguson, Chris Aitken and Scott Tunbridge being replaced by Iain Fyfe, David Hamilton and young Andy Sim. None of these guys made a big impression, although wee Andy Sim looked promising and very skillful. Ayr nearly pulled a goal back with a fine header that thudded off the post - but then they did score a consolation goal right at the end.

Chris Aitken was the surprise choice for the sponsor's man of the match award. I would have gone for a few guys ahead of him, particularly Mark Corcoran, Stevie Covery and Ricky Waddell, who were all superb. All in all it was a good night's work, especially when you consider that key players like Brian McPhee, Brian Carrigan and Mark McLaughlin were all missing.

Hamilton: McEwan, Lumsden, Thomson, Hodge, Waddell, Tunbridge, Ferguson, Aitken, Corcoran, Keogh, Convery. Subs: Walker, Fyfe, Hamilton, Sim, Jellema.

Ayr United: Roy, Lyle, McLaughlin, Burgess, McGrady, Ramsay, Chaplain, Dunlop, Henderson, Kean, Connolly. Subs: Dunning, Conway, O'Neill, Steven Ferguson, Hillcoat.

Referee: J Underhill

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