Hamilton 1 Queen's Park 1: Premier Sports Cup exit for Accies as Spiders strike late

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Hamilton Accies are out of the Premier Sports Cup after conceding a late equaliser at home to Queen's Park.John Rankin's men looked to be on the road to qualification for the knockout stages when Andy Winter struck after four minutes to net for the third game in succession.However, Hamilton's resolve was broken 12 minutes from time when Jake Davidson curled the ball home inside the box to level.In the shootout for the bonus point in the Group H clash, Accies prevailed 5-3 in a result that sent both sides out.Rankin's men finish the group in second spot on eight points but it will not be enough to qualify due to their goal difference.Accies made one change from last week’s 3-0 win away to Forfar as summer signing Jonny Ngandu dropped to the bench and Andy Winter came in after netting in their success at Station Park.The visitors also had a solitary alteration from their last outing, a 2-1 defeat at Dundee, with Liam Brown being replaced in midfield by Alex Bannon.Former Accies star Louis Longridge was among the Spiders 11, while Josh McPake started on the bench following his loan move from Rangers earlier in the day.

Ex-Cambuslang Rangers striker Scott Williamson was also among the substitutes.Inside the first 90 seconds Accies came agonisingly close to taking an early lead when Steve Lawson's out-swinging corner found Dan O'Reilly darting into the box, but his downward header was hoofed off the line by Dom Thomas.And that early pressure paid off in the fourth minute.

Winter latched on to Lewis Smith's through ball and the forward drilled a low strike past Calum Ferrie into the bottom corner for a deserved lead.Moments later Accies breathed a sigh of relief as the break of the ball fell kindly for Thomas inside the box,