Two second-half strikes from Danny Invincibile ensured nervous Kilmarnock's passage to the third round of the CIS Insurance Cup.

Killie had not scored in the competition since their 3-1 semi-final defeat of St Mirren in 2001.

Suspected whipping boys Hamilton Academicals braved Rugby Park last night and proved they were intent on avoiding a dose of CIS sado masochism. The scoreline slightly flattered a below par Kilmarnock.
There are two types of whipping boy. The first is the kind that plays cavalier football, enjoys their night and gets whipped. The other is the one who shuts his shop from the outset and deservedly gets whipped. During the first half, the metaphorical whip exchanged hands a few times.
Hamilton were the epitome of the former as they matched Kilmarnock blow for blow and created more clear cut chances, courtesy of their refreshingly slick and energetic attacking game plan. Brian Carrigan had the best chance on 30 minutes but volleyed just wide.
For Kilmarnock, it was the old hiding to nothing routine as uncharacteristic lapses were summarily booed against such eager pretenders.

Craig Dargo, though, should have scored five minutes later from point blank range.
Allan Johnston looked like he was enjoying his first game at Rugby Park under his old Hearts manager, Jim Jefferies, while for Hamilton, Pat Keogh who looked flat footed up front early this season, dropped into midfield and Accies were intent on expressing themselves, to manager Alan Maitland's credit, on the lush grass pitch.
Hamilton's reward should have come on the hour after a James Fowler howler, but Mark Corcoran scuffed a terrible half volley wide of target with the goal at his mercy.

The Ayrshire men should have taken the lead in the 55th minute when Invincibile's header back across the goal gave MacDonald a seemingly easy chance.

But the midfielder's header from around four yards out was well saved by goalkeeper David McEwan.

The home side eased some nerves when they stole into the lead after 63 minutes.

A flighted cross from the right by Johnston found Invincibile at the back post and the Australian made no mistake from close range.

Killie looked sharper now and scored a well-worked goal in the 70th minute to compound their newly-gained superiority.

The lively Johnston worked a neat pass to Boyd and, when the big striker slipped it to Gary McDonald inside the Hamilton box, the midfielder drove his angled shot past McEwan and in off the far post.(right).

Hamilton were out on their feet now and, in the 86th minute, Invincibile made it three when he hammered an angled shot past McEwan from 16 yards after good work by McDonald.

Kris Boyd was carried off with a knee injury in the 2nd half.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Lilley, Dindeleux, Hay, Invincibile, Locke (Joly 80), McDonald, Johnston (Dodds 86), Dargo (Murray 59), Boyd.
Subs Not Used: Greer, Smith.

Goals: Invincibile 63, McDonald 70, Invincibile 86.

Attendance: 3,375