betfred cup
AYR UNITED 2 Forrest (pen 2), Crawford (49) HAMILTON ACCIES 1 Longridge (90)
MARTIN CANNING got an early reminder of just how short his Hamilton team are as goals from Alan Forrest and Robbie Crawford fired Ayr to victory.
Although Louis Longridge pulled back an consolation deep into stoppage time, it didn’t mask the problems his team face. The Accies boss shrugged off calls for his head from angry fans who vented their fury at the final whistle.
Canning said: “I would ask them to be patient and stay behind the team. I am trying hard to bring in players. I know there is frustration but to maintain our Premier League status last season was the most important thing.”
Accies gave a debut to keeper Remi Matthews, signed on a season-long loan from Norwich City.
But inside two minutes he was picking the ball out of the net after Ayr took the lead with a Forrest penalty after Daryll Meggatt was bundled to the ground by Darian Mackinnon, who was booked for his troubles. Forrest calmly wrongfooted Matthews from the spot.
Accies hit back with a succession of corners but home keeper Greg Fleming dealt with it all.
Hamilton had the lion’s share of possession but Ayr were content to sit tight and try to hit on the break. They almost made the tactic pay off after 31 minutes when Forrest raced clear down the right only for Matthews to block his shot at the expense of a corner.
Hamilton continued to exert pressure and Crawford and Imrie worked a free-kick well at the edge of the box but Fleming got down well to save Imrie’s scuffed low shot.
Just on the interval, Nicky Devlin made a great tackle to prevent the threatening Imrie from lining up a shot.
Ayr doubled their lead four minutes into the second period with a stunning strike from Crawford who cut inside and curled home a leftfoot shot from 20 yards.
Hamilton’s woes mounted when Garcia Tena was stretchered off after twisting his knee.
Ayr almost grabbed a third on the break when Forrest raced clear on a Devlin pass but was crowded out.
Longridge got one back in injury time with a shot from the edge of the box.
Ayr boss Ian McCall said: “You could see in the last 25 to 30 minutes that we are nowhere near ready in terms of fitness.
“I’ve been in football 35 years and I would say the Hamilton support need to have a look at themselves. To call for their manager to be sacked on the first day of the season is outrageous.”