CheroNics EAL DEALfoRRAItH
ANDY McNEIL produced spot-kick heroics on his debut to send holders Raith Rovers into the SPFL Trust Trophy quarter-finals.
With the Stark’s Park clash tied at 1-1 after Alex King’s opener for Morton was nullified by Lewis Vaughan’s header, 21-yearold third choice keeper McNeil took centre stage.
He saved from King and Liam Grimshaw in the shoot-out before Ross Millen sealed the victory for Ian Murray’s outfit with a Panenka.
Murray heaped praise on the young No.1, who stepped up with Jamie MacDonald and Robbie Thomson injured.
He said: “Andy did really well and we are delighted for him. He showed he has a really bright future.”
Hamilton took full advantage of Inverness Caley Thistle’s injury crisis to ease past a Highlanders’ side that contained nine teenagers in their starting line-up and five academy kids on the bench.
Billy Dodds’ boys got off to a nightmare start when Sam Nixon, trying to cut out a Lucas de Bolle cutback, knocked the ball into his own net.
A second goal, notched by skipper Reegan Mimnaugh on the half hour, was enough to see Accies through.
But Inverness coach Ryan Esson was proud of his kids’ display. He said: “It was a bit daunting to begin with but we grew into the game.
“Hamilton put out an experienced side and I’m very happy with how our boys have done.”
Queen’s Park made it five wins in a row as they beat Montrose 2-0 at Hampden – but had keeper Callum Ferrie to thank for a couple of fine saves before Dom Thomas gave the Championship team the lead in the 26th minute.
Montrose kept the match alive until injurytime when a superb solo effort from on-loan Rangers attacker Josh McPake sealed the win.
Spiders boss Owen Coyle said: “It’s another clean sheet and a couple of goals, so I’m quite happy.”
Kelty Hearts celebrated a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over Linfield – the last non-Scottish club left in the competition – after Kallum Higginbotham’s late long-range effort cancelled out Chris McKee’s opener from the spot for the Belfast outfit.
Clyde keeper Neil Parry was the hero at Elgin, where his two penalty saves in the shoot-out that followed a drab, goalless 90 minutes, secured victory for the Bully Wee.