Ayr 2 Hamilton 1

Ayr got their Betfred Cup campaign off to a great start as they beat Ladbrokes Premiership side Hamilton 2-1 at Somerset Park.

Accies boss Martin Canning named goalkeeper Remi Matthews in his starting line-up following his loan move from Norwich, but the first thing he had to do was pick out Alan Forrest's second-minute penalty following a foul on Darryll Meggatt by Darian MacKinnon.

Ayr doubled their lead just four minutes into the second half when Robbie Crawford cut in from the right and curled a superb shot into the left corner from 22 yards out and it fell to Louis Longridge to grab a late consolation for Hamilton.

The victory was no more than their play deserved, as the Honest Men looked pretty comfortable against a limited Hamilton attack.

The first half was a pretty dull affair apart from the goal, and all Matthews had to do was block a Forrest shot for a corner after the striker had shown Antons Kurakins a clean pair of heels on the right flank in the 32nd minute.

In the first half Hamilton went close when a corner was cleared to Ali Crawford and he pinged the cross back in, where it was cleared desperately.

A minute later Grant Gillespie's cross from the right was headed by Alex D'Acol at the back post, but Greg Fleming held onto it.

In the second half Ayr scored their goal through Crawford but there was little else happening as they tried to hold on to their lead.

The hosts could have added a third in the 72nd minute when Forrest was sent through on goal, but lack of control let him down and the danger was cleared.

Accies sub Scott McMann was unlucky not to pull a goal back on 75 minutes when he reacted to Fleming's save from a Louis Longridge header, but the keeper did well.

Longridge pulled a goal back for Accies three minutes into stoppage time.