#ramsdens cup

POLICE have arrest 19 men following a mass brawl at Grassmarket ahead of the Rangers v Raith Rovers Ramsdens Cup Final. A “significant” police operation was launched to trace men involved in the fracas which took place on Sunday, April 6, involving several divisions within the Force. Following investigations, men from Glasgow, Renfrew, Edinburgh and…

This photograph shows just how close Ayr United came to grabbing an extra-time winner against Championship side Falkirk in the second round of the Ramsdens Cup last night.

Having collected a return pass from Michael Moffat in the first half of extra time, Gordon Pope unleashed a thunderous shot that beat Northern Ireland international Michael McGovern all ends up, only to see the ball crash off the bar and bounce just the wrong side of the goal line and away.

It would have been difficult to begrudge United the win after another good performance. The Honest Men were certainly good value their half-time lead, courtesy of a great strike from Craig Malcolm, a rare goal from outside the penalty in recent times for Ayr.

While United were ultimately undone by two poor goals from a defensive perspective (the second in particular saw the Falkirk player with far too much space and time to play a cross into the box) it is clear that this is a team which is night and day compared to the that of last season in terms of attitude and application. While Alan Lithgow has made a big impact at the back, the whole team is showing great desire to win and compassion which as a supporter is great to see.

Also encouraging was glimpses that Michael McGowan's gradual return to full tilt continues. A number of touches and flicks McGowan produced were mesmerising and while it is clear Mikey has lost a yard of pace (he was never the quickest), he can be an important player this season.

Stranraer now on Saturday, with a good opportunity to extend the unbeaten start to the season. With three days to recover the exertions of extra time should be surmountable and the signs are ominous that Craig Malcolm could return to haunt his old side.

TEAM: Hutton; Wylie (Shankland), Pope, Campbell, Lithgow; Forrest (McGowan), McLaughlin, Marenghi (Crawford), Donald; Moffat Malcolm.

This weeks featured match is the Ramsdens Cup Semi-final tie between Hamilton Accies and Livingston, at New Douglas Park.

The team line ups were:

 Hamilton                              Livingston

1 Tomas CERNY                    Andy MCNEIL 1

2 Jim MCALISTER                   Kyle JACOBS 2

3 Stephen HENDRIE              Jason TALBOT 3

4 Martin CANNING              David SINCLAIR 4

5 Simon MENSING                Craig BARR 5

6 Mark MCLAUGHLIN            Paul WATSON 6

7 Dougie IMRIE                     Liam FOX 7

8 Ziggy GORDON                 Stefan SCOUGALL 8

9 Derek LYLE                         Kenny DEUCHAR 9

10 Andy RYAN                       Iain RUSSELL 10

11 Ali CRAWFORD                 Bobby BARR 11

Attendance: 1418

Referee: Charlie Richmond

The match had a rather cagey beginning, both teams using the long ball. Opening ten minutes mostly featured good pressure from Livingston, with Hamilton occasionally hitting them on the counter attack.

But early on Accies goalie Tomas Cerny looked shaky when almost caught out by a back pass with Livi striker Iain Russell chasing it down. The first attack came from Hamilton with Dougie Imrie getting the best of Livingston right back Kyle Jacobs. Imrie got in a dangerous cross which was cleared by the Livi defence, but only as far as Hamilton’s Ali Crawford who shoots just wide.

15 minutes into the match Imrie continues to torment the Livingston defence, putting in a few good crosses but with the lack of support the attack breaks down. A few minutes later a free kick was awarded to Livingston 40 yards from goal, taken by number 4 David Sinclair. The long ball was headed down and a resulting shot was blocked and went out for a corner. The cross for the back post was barely cleared, when there were strong claims for handball, but the ref blew his whistle for a push and a free kick awarded to the Accies.

20 minutes into the match, both teams were starting to get a rhythm going with  both using the wings. The first substitution of the match came at 20 minutes with number 2 Kyle Jacobs coming off for Ross Docherty.

21 minutes and Dougie Imrie was proving to be the most dangerous player for the Livi defence, a shot from range left Andy McNeil with an easy save, this time.

Andy Ryan was fouled by Craig Barr 30 yards from the goals. Ali Crawford stepped up to take the kick but his shot went well wide.

Only minutes later Martin Canning was booked for a foul at the halfway line. The freekick was taken by David Sinclair. Iain Russell nearly got on the end of the freekick but the ball went through to Cerny. 

25 minutes into the match and Livingston were mounting the pressure, another freekick to Livi in the same area was hut low to Liam Fox, who tried a looping shot over Cerny. But the height wasn’t there and it was collected by the Hamilton number one.

Moments later Stefan Scougall was through one on one with Cerny but the Czech made a good save to keep it nil - nil.

Derek Lyle was then fouled 40 yards from goal, Dougie Imrie took the freekick but it was a scrappy clearance by the Livi defence.

Half an hour into the match Livi were on the counter, and Cerny was caught out and had to challenge Iain Russell for the ball in the air, but Cerny manages to put the ball out for a corner. The corner was taken short, then squared to Kenny Deuchar who’s shot is blocked but claims of hand ball are waved away.

36 minutes Derek Lyle got past his marker in the box, but somehow the Livi defender makes it back and puts in a good tackle .

Over the next ten minutes several Hamilton attacks come to nothing as they lack the killer touch in the final third.

A Livingston counter attack was halted at the halfway line by Martin Canning, with an excellent tackle that needed to be made or else Iain Russell would have been through.

After some good possession and sustained pressure from Livingston, an Accies counter attack lead by Derek Lyle whose shot produced a great save from Andy McNeil.

Corner for Hamilton nearing halftime was when the matches only goal came. The cross to the back post was headed back across the face of goal where Mark McLaughlin nodded the ball into the back of the net.

Livi nearly answered back straight away with terrific volley from 25 yards goes inches wide. But then Hamilton went on the counter where a dangerous cross from Imrie was cleared by the Livi defence for a corner which was then cleared again. 

At this point of the match it was real end to end stuff in the closing minutes before halftime. Good passing put Russell through on goal but Cerny again answered back with a really good save. A Livingston corner was then wasted as the poor cross was then collected by Cerny.

Ali Crawford then poped up to hit a shot from 25 yards that was blocked, then moments later Iain Russell used some brilliant skill on the wing to put in a low driven cross, but unfortunately it came to nothing.

Halftime, and Hamilton had been best until the break with some nice play down the wings. Livingston had been restricted to long balls up the pitch, but have had the better clear-cut chances.

Hamilton Accies kicked off the second half. Imrie continues to put in crosses to worry the Livi defence. The second Imrie cross was cleared for a corner. The cross came in McNeil flaps at it, the ball falls to a Hamilton player who’s shot is blocked, the ball then breaks to another Accies player whos shot is also blocked for another corner. 

The second corner comes in, but McNeil is lost in a crowd when the ref blows the whistle for a Livingston freekick.

5 minutes into the second half and Livingston determined to get an equaliser see’s an Iain Russell cross for Kenny Deuchar, but Deuchar’s header goes over.

Minutes later a freekick to Livi right at the corner flag is whipped in and only punched away by Cerny.

Imrie continues to be a menace as Hamilton became more dominate in the first 10-15 minutes of the second half.

A freekick to Livingston was launched up the pitch to Deuchar who heads it down to Russel, Iain Russell then turns and shoots but is blocked.

On the hour mark a long throw is headed down by Derek Lyle for young Andy Ryan who’s shot is well over the bar.

Russell is booked for back talking to the ref. then second later Imrie is booked for a poor tackle at the halfway line.

Livingston embark on a good period of pressure as they try to get a foothold of the match, but the offside rule catches them out.

Livingston freekick at the halfway line is kicked up to Craig Barr but is cleared by the Hamilton defence, though not far enough. Livingston continue to put the Hamilton defence under pressure. Tries a turning shot in the Hamilton box, but is deflected onto the post and out for a corner. A poor cross from the corner is put out for another corner, which also is poor and is punched away by Cerny.

Livi freekick 35 yards out is taken by David Sinclair, who hit’s a solid shot that just goes wide.

Second sub of the day, Kenny Deuchar made way for Mark McNulty.

73rd minute substitution for Hamilton off comes Mark McLaughlin and Andy Ryan, on is James Chambers and Matt Paterson.

Livingston continue to pile on the pressue, with Hamilton only being able to make brief breakaways.

75th minute Iain Russell is up against Simon Mensing, Russell gets the shot away, Cerny parries and lucky for Hamilton Simon Mensing (who is now on the ground) manages to head the ball away for a corner. The corner is over hit but Liam Fox is there to try and put it back in the box, but its blocked.

Dougie Imrie somehow makes it through the crowd of Livingston defenders, one on one with the goalie but puts the ball just wide.

Final sub for Hamilton, Derek Lyle is off for Greig Spence.

A good corner from Hamilton is just tipped away by McNeil as they once again take a hold of the match.

Mark McNulty is booked for and a freekick awarded to Hamilton at the halfway line. The long ball is easily collected by Livi goalie McNeil

82nd minute final sub for Livingston, Liam Fox is replaced by Rory Boulding.

Last ten minutes and an Accies corner is only punched away from McNeil who looks very shaky in goals.

Some neat play from Ali Crawford who shots from 25 yards, but goes over.

The last chance for a Livingston equaliser comes, and goes. Iain Russell through on goal with Cerny rushing out to meet him, Russell tries a chip shot that goes agonizingly just over hitting the roof of the net.

The last few minutes Livingston try desperately to get the goal with Hamilton hanging on waiting for the final whistle, which does eventually come, with the match ending in a 1-0 victory for Hamilton Accies who will now face Falkirk in the Ramsdens Challenge Cup final.

Booked:

Martin Canning

Dougie Imrie

Craig Barr

Jason Talbot

Iain Russell