Third Division Annan shock the Honest Men as cup semi-finalists are decided

Annan Athletic stunned First Division hosts Ayr United 1-0 to reach the semi-final stage of the Ramsdens Cup where the Third Division outfit will be joined by previous winners Hamilton Accies and Falkirk as well as Livingston, who were runners up in 2000.

The Galabank side were quick to show the Honest Men that they meant business with Ian Harty releasing David Cox in the opening exchanges, however Kevin Cuthbert darted from his goalline to block.

Annan were certainly in the mood to break the deadlock and, just before half-time, Peter Watson flicked a header inches wide as the home side struggled to get into the game. The visitors did finally get the goal they deserved on 58 minutes when a dangerous Sean O’Connor cross was guided home by Cox.

The goalscorer looked to have added a second with little more than 20 minutes left when he turned his marker and shot home. However, the ball hit the inside of the post and bounced to safety.

Finally Ayr sprang into life and Ross Robertson missed with a header before substitute Michael Moffat rattled a post. As their efforts to draw level became more frantic, goalkeeper Cuthbert ventured forward to reach a corner, only for his header to go wide of goal.

Hamilton came from behind to defeat Morton 2-1 in an exciting encounter at New Douglas Park between the top two sides in the First Division. Paul Di Giacomo opened the scoring after ten minutes for the Greenock men when he crashed home a left-foot shot from the edge of the box. But the Cappielow men were not ahead for long.

On-loan Celtic striker Greig Spence restored parity seven minutes diverting a low free kick from James Chambers past Colin Stewart after livewire Dougie Imrie had been tripped.

Former Accie Andy Graham was then denied a goal midway through the half when Tomas Cerny pulled off a fine save to keep out his close range effort. Hamilton then stepped up their efforts and Spence sent Imrie free on goal on 32 minutes, only for the striker to fire wide.

However, Hamilton did get themselves ahead 60 seconds later when Simon Mensing was left unmarked and Ali Crawford floated in a free kick which the big defender headed home.

Both sides had further chances in the second half but in the end it was Billy Reid’s men who went through to mark their first season in the SFL for four years with a cup semi-final berth.

East Fife threatened to cause another cup upset by sending Falkirk out of the Ramsdens Cup, having already defeated Dunfermline in the Scottish Communities League Cup. In the end though, Steven Pressley’s men won through 4-1.

The Fifers almost took an early lead when Ryan Wallace sent a header against the bar but the striker had better luck on 27 minutes when he netted with a fine shot from 20 yards out.

The chances of another shock were building up a head of steam until three minutes from half time when Mark Millar finally levelled for the Bairns, knocking a loose ball home after Kallum Higginbotham’s shot had been saved.

Falkirk secured their passage to the next round by scoring two goals early in the second half with Higginbotham firing home a free kick on 52 minutes and Craig Sibbald netting with a fierce drive two minutes later.

With three minutes remaining. Higginbotham twisted and turned before adding his second and Falkirk’s fourth

Livingston squeezed past Berwick Rangers 2-1 at Shielfield, with Ian Russell’s late goal denying the Borderers the chance to take the game to extra time.

Stefan Scougall scored his first career goal for Livingston, converting a pass from Russell after 12 minutes but the Borderers restored parity seven minutes into the second half when Kevin McDonald sent over a corner that was adjudged to have crossed the line by an observant assistant referee.

With five minutes left, Russell turned goalscorer and Scougall goalmaker as the pair combined again to send Livingston through to the next round.