A first half goal from Brechin City striker Steven Hampshire sent
Bank of Scotland Premier League Kilmarnock crashing out of the CIS
Insurance Cup 1-0 at Glebe Park.
The former Dunfermline striker finished off a great move involving
Charlie King to score the decisive goal which was to prove crucial for
the team currently propping up the Bell's First Division.
Victory was no more than City deserved after 90 minutes in which they
more than matched their SPL visitors who looked as if they would rather
be elsewhere.
But it was Killie who should have taken the lead in the second minute
after midfielder Peter Canero found himself free on goal but the
Scotland
Under-21 international hesitated with his shot which went wide of the
post.
City battled back and gave as good as they got and there was no
surprise when they took the lead in the 18th minute following a mistake
in the midfield by Kilmarnock captain Steve Fulton.
The former Hearts player carelessly lost possession to King, who fed
Hampshire immediately with a clever reverse pass.
The ex-Pars man pounced on his chance, rounded keeper Francois
Dubourdeau and slotted the ball into the empty net.
City were making all the running now and the visitors were struggling
to get out of their own half at times.
On the half-hour mark Brechin came close to doubling their lead.
A King cross from the left-hand side found Ally Mitchell and the
former Kilmarnock midfielder's shot clipped the bar.
After the interval the visitors continued to struggle to get into the
game and James Fowler's rash shot from 50 yards which went high over the
bar typified Kilmarnock's frustration.
In the second half Hampshire went close with
an overhead kick and a shot which Dubourdeau saved with his feet.
Brechin keeper Derek Soutar brilliantly
saved a Sean Hessey drive. Killie's Kris Boyd drove inches wide in the
74th minute.
Substitute Gary McSwegan should have forced
extra time in 85 minutes but his close range header went past.
Kilmarnock: Dubourdeau, Shields, Hardie, Hessey, McLaughlin
(Murray 46 mins), Fowler, (Di Giacomo 60 mins), Dindeleux, Fulton,
Canero, Boyd, Nish (McSwegan 46 mins).
Subs: Samson, Mahood, (not used...lucky them!)
