Hamilton 1-1 PARS (AET, Hamilton win 3-0 on penalties)

PARS penalty curse struck again as they suffered a gut-wrenching Scottish Cup loss at Hamilton tonight.

Callum Morris’ first half opener looked to have sent them through until Rakish Bingham converted a penalty with three minutes to go after a foul by the centre back.

Both teams had chances to win it but it went to a spot-kick lottery and subs Rhys McCabe, Michael Paton and Gavin Reilly all missed to deny them a quarter-final at Rangers.

It was tough on Athletic, who really should have won the tie on Saturday, and performed admirably against their Premiership opponents in this replay.

Pars boss Allan Johnston made one change to the starting line-up from Saturday’s original tie; the injured Andy Geggan missed out and was replaced by Jason Talbot, meaning a place on the bench for teenager Stuart Morrison.

Dougie Imrie had the first sight of goal inside the opening minute from a free-kick conceded by Paul McMullan, but the experienced midfielder’s effort was straight down the throat of captain for evening Sean Murdoch.

Some neat feet from Rakish Bingham to move away from Kallum Higginbotham helped set up the next chance in the 12th minute as, after spraying it wide for Grant Gillespie, the latter laid it off for Danny Redmond to strike but it flew wide.

At the other end, excellent interception work by Nat Wedderburn in midfield allowed him to play it in to McMullan, whose strike from the edge of the area was just tipped wide by Remi Matthews.

However the travelling fans only had to wait until the 25th minute to celebrate as they moved ahead.

It was a scrappy one; Higginbotham’s delivery from a corner forced by McMullan found Ashcroft at the back post, who headed it into the mix.

Gillespie could only head it back to the centre back, who nodded it back into the six yard area and Morris nipped ahead of Matthews to prod it into the net.

Accies were quickly forced into a change when Dan Seaborne was forced off injured to be replaced by Massimo Donati as the Pars made it through the opening half hour in an excellent position.

They almost extended their lead in the 37th minute when careless play from the home side allowed Michael Moffat to pick up possession midway inside his own half.

The forward burst forward to the edge of the area and, with options to his left and right, he elected to go left to McMullan, who had made his way into the box.

Despite taking a decent touch to control, the angle was closed on him by home defenders and his effort ended the wrong side of the near post.

Martin was fortunate not to give away a penalty when he looked to barge over Gramoz Kurtaj in the box, before Redmond sent a shot that Murdoch held at the second attempt as Hamilton rallied.

They were inches away from a leveller right on the half-time whistle when Imrie flashed a volley just wide after Martin’s attempted clearing header from a cross from the right fell invitingly into his path.

Nicky Clark almost had a sight of goal but Matthews smothered after his touch from a Moffat flick was too heavy, while at the other end Bingham called Murdoch into action with a stinging driver that the keeper punched to safety.

Just before the hour mark, Dunfermline had a golden chance to double their lead with a smart counter-attack.

Moffat led the charge, feeding the ball wide left for Clark, who pulled it into the danger area.

The ball fell for Moffat but he could only shoot at Matthews and, as the ball fell back to him, he found John Herron whose chip sailed over the bar with the keeper pedalling back towards his line.

As the contest moved into the final 20 minutes, Johnston made his first substitution by replacing Clark with Gavin Reilly and Wedderburn was unfortunate not to get over the ball and keep his effort from a Higginbotham cross down.

The Pars wide man was involved in another talking point with 12 minutes left when he appeared to send Scott McMann over in the area, but again Craig Thomson waved play on.

Martin Canning was, understandly, unhappy and they howled again for a penalty when a hooked shot from Bingham’s cross at close range, but Thomson deemed there to be no handball with Ashcroft in the vicinity.

Rhys McCabe replaced Moffat as the game entered the final 10 minutes, with Athletic continuing to try and hold on.

Accies sub Eamonn Brophy slashed wide after being found by Redmond as they kept pressing for an opportunity to force extra time and, with three minutes to go, they dramatically levelled.

This time they were awarded a penalty as, after breaking through a couple of challenges, McMann was brought down by Morris.

Thomson had no choice and, despite going the right way, Murdoch couldn’t keep out Bingham’s spot-kick.

That meant another 30 minutes were needed and Murdoch was almost immediately called upon to save from Darian MacKinnon after a quickly taken Donati free-kick.

The new ruling meaning an extra substitution in extra time was utilised by Johnston seven minutes into the opening period as he brought on Michael Paton and Joe Cardle for Higginbotham and McMullan for his final two changes.

Murdoch made two smart stops from Imrie and Bingham as Accies continued to pepper his goal before Brophy once more found the former Hamilton number one picking up his shot.

At the other end, Cardle whipped in an outstanding cross that Reilly was inches away from connecting with; had he got a touch, Pars would have been back in the lead.

They came close again the second period when Cardle picked out McCabe on the right, and he flashed a tremendous ball across the box that was just too far ahead of Reilly.

A Brophy free-kick into the wall was the last action as the teams were forced into a spot-kick showdown.

However, despite Redmond missing for Accies, McCabe, Paton and Reilly all missed as Donati, Brophy and Devlin sent the home side through.

Hamilton: Matthews, Seaborne, Devlin, Gillespie, Imrie, Redmond, Kurtaj, Bingham, Watson, MacKinnon, McMann.

Subs: Skondras, Brophy, Donati, Cunningham, Hughes, Adams, Woods Pars: Murdoch, Martin, Talbot, Ashcroft, Morris, McMullan, Herron, Wedderburn, Higginbotham, Clark, Moffat.

Subs: Morrison, Paton, McCabe, Reilly, Hopkirk, Cardle, Hutton.

Referee: Craig Thomson.