2007-08-14 Ayr United

Despite a fine early goal by Stuart Taylor, a much changed Accies team were knocked out of the Challenge Cup on a dreich night at New Douglas Park.

Hamilton Accies 1 Ayr United 2

New Douglas Park

Tuesday, 14th August 2007

Challenge Cup Round 1

Accies suffered their first defeat of the season when they lost 2-1 at NDP against Ayr in the first round of the Challenge Cup. Billy Reid made no fewer than 8 changes to the team that defeated Clyde at the weekend, which meant that there were debuts for new signing Nicky Wroe and 17 year old defender Grant Evans. The only survivors from the weekend were Brian Easton, Stuart Taylor and Neil Teggart. Wroe was signed on a short term contract as it is not possible to play a trialist in a cup game and was released after the match.

Accies took the lead through a Stuart Taylor goal after 17 minutes when visiting goalkeeper Barry John Corr was deceived by the flight of a Tony Stevenson corner. Taylor was on hand to volley the ball home at the back post. Ayr were always in the game and it took two fine saves from Bryn Halliwell to maintain Accies lead at the break. The first was an excellent diving save to beat away a netbound header and the second came when he dived low to his right to block a Michael Moore penalty that was given for a foul by Brian Easton.

The visitors grabbed an unexpected equaliser on the hour mark when Moore scored from close range and then Ryan Stevenson dispossessed David Elebert to score the winner with 14 minutes remaining. It was a poor night for Accies as they exited a competition that has served them well in the past.

Hamilton: Halliwell, Wroe, Gibson, Stevenson, Evans, Easton (Gilhaney 62), Taylor (Elebert 55), McCarthy, Teggart (Wake 46), McLeod, Davison.

Subs Not Used: Crawford, Cerny.

Goal: Taylor 17.

Ayr: Corr, Swift, Pettigrew, Forrest, Robertson, Stevenson, Vareille, Weaver, Wardlaw (Moore 36), Williams, Dunn.

Subs Not Used: Henderson, Casey, Lowing, McGeown.

Booked: Pettigrew.

Goals: Moore 60, Stevenson 76.

Att: 611

Ref: M McCurry

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