The second division side, under the temporary control of Jimmy Boyle, were more than a match for their Clydesdale Bank Premier League hosts for the best part of an hour before Kilmarnock stepped up a gear and motored to victory. In the end it was shooty-in as Airdrie legs simply gave up.
Conor Sammon kept up his impressive record in this competition by netting a hat trick, a second-half glut of goals putting paid to Airdrie’s chances of causing an upset.
“Hopefully the first win of many,” Paatelainen said. “It was fantastic as the boys were very good, but all credit to Airdrie who were a spirited side and pushed us all the way.”
The opening period, in fact, was far
from comfortable for Kilmarnock. They scored after just
four minutes, Sammon finishing well after fastening on
to Liam Kelly’s pass, but then stood off and let their
opponents back into the tie. Airdrie, being Airdrie, did
not need to be asked twice.
Their reward for plucky endeavour was an equalising goal after 17 minutes. Rhys Devlin fizzed in a shot that was deflected for a corner and, when that wasn’t adequately dealt with, Ryan McCord, on loan from Dundee United, arrowed a low effort that fairly whistled past Bell.
Kilmarnock rocked and reeled for a while before digging deep to move in front again. This time it was the Airdrie defence who hardly covered themselves in glory, allowing a loose ball in their box to make its way through to Frazer Wright who fairly lashed the ball into the net.
Airdrie would be eventually overwhelmed by Kilmarnock’s superior fitness and passing in the second half.
The visitors had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them in the tie – Mark Ridgers posting an early contender for save of the season with an exquisite fingertip stop from Kelly’s fierce shot – but could do little to deny Sammon a second, and his side’s third, after the striker had been played in by Garry Hay.
In between both efforts, Airdrie had a decent chance of their own, a smart save from Bell denying Anthony Watt.
Kilmarnock, finally able to breathe easier with the chance of a cup shock having dissipated, made sure of the result with a fourth goal after 64 minutes. It was the best move of the match, a series of passes concluding with Tim Clancy picking out Kelly who thundered a shot into the top corner.
A fifth goal duly followed as Airdrie wilted. Hay clipped a pass into the penalty box and Mohamadou Sissoko, denied in the first-half by a goalline clearance, headed in his first goal for the club.
Airdrie managed a consolation three minutes from time when Euen Grant’s deflected free kick left Bell wrong-footed, before Sammon concluded the scoring with a header for his first Kilmarnock hat trick.
Kilmarnock Bell, Clancy, Wright, Sissoko, Gordon, Kelly, Pascali (Taouil 71), Hay, Dayton (Invincibile 65), Sammon,Silva (Fowler 65).
Subs Not Used: Letheren, Hamill.
Booked: Kelly, Sissoko, Clancy, Hay.
