Hamilton 3 - 0 Stenhousemuir: Accies ensure passages with easy win

Hamilton's Steven Boyd scores to make it 3-0. Picture: SNS/Ross Parker

Midfielder Ali Crawford set the Ladbrokes Premiership side on their way to a comfortable victory which would ultimately see them top Group G in the 14th minute, opening the scoring with a 25-yard free-kick.

Forward David Templeton drilled in number two in the 56th minute before his replacement Steven Boyd headed in number three to take them into Sunday’s last-16 draw.

Accies boss Martin Canning had made eight changes to his side and it took time for them to adjust.

Indeed, there was little goalmouth action at either end until the home side took the lead.

The lively Crawford was tripped by Thomas Halleran 25 yards from goal as he made his way towards the penalty area.

The Hamilton play-maker picked himself up and curled the free-kick over the wall and into the bottom corner past goalkeeper Chris Smith.

The goal settled Canning’s men and the visiting keeper made further saves, one from another Crawford free-kick, twice from efforts by striker Rakish Bingham, while also denying Danny Redmond from close range.

Moments after Louis Longridge replaced Dougie Imrie in the early stages of the second half, he set up Templeton to fire in smartly from the edge of the box.

Boyd, on just after the hour mark, blasted a decent chance over the crossbar but made amends in the 74th minute when he got his head to a Redmond cross to flick the ball past Smith and seal the win.