Enjoy your night however you like, just make sure you’re in the door for training in the morning.

That was the message from John Rankin after his battling Hamilton Accies side fought their way to SPFL Trust Trophy jubilation against Raith Rovers. The manager understands there may be a sore head or two reporting for duty on Monday, but insisted his team cannot afford days off as they battle to avoid the Championship trapdoor.

Just as important, however, is enjoying these fleeting moments when they come along, and that’s why he’s encouraged his Accies heroes to make sure they still lap it up before getting right back to work.

“I don’t drink but I have told the boys to go and enjoy the night without me,” Rankin said.

“It’s important they spend the night together and enjoy the moments like this. They are few and far between.

“I want them to build their spirit, I know it is there now, but they can add to that.

“We had three injuries but the desire for Matthew Shiels to get through another 12 mintues when he is injured, so we can make a sub at half-time without a stoppage, allows us the chance to make another change when Dan is sent off.

“They can enjoy the night but they will be in tomorrow as we have a battle to win to stay up.”

Hamilton’s victory was the archetypal triumph in the face of adversity. Not only did they have O’Reilly sent off, but three of Rankin’s players – Benny Ashley-Seel, Marley Redfern and Matthew Shiels – all succumbed to injuries by half-time, forcing Rankin to constantly shuffle his pack.

Goalscorer Tumilty occupied no fewer than three positions, and keeper Ryan Fulton was called upon to make a succession of crucial saves.

“At one point I asked how else we can help them, but they helped us and themselves,” Rankin said. “I thought Reegan Mimnaugh and Scott Martin were brilliant, Lucas De Bolle had moments of composure when we needed it.

“But the three leaders we have are Dylan McGowan, Brian Easton and Ryan Fulton. Easty and Dylan were superb but Fults summed up how he has been all season.

“He is the standout goalie in the league for me. At times he kept the score down and that’s me being brutally honest. He didn’t single handedly win us the cup but he made some unbelievable saves to make sure we won silverware.

“What it means to the club is the first trophy for 30 years and a great opportunity to get momentum to stay in the league. When you see over 2000 fans here, if those numbers come out and back us for the rest of the season it will be massive.

“Without them today, we probably wouldn’t have won the trophy today. For the next nine cup finals, we need their backing.”

Raith Rovers manager Ian Murray, meanwhile, hinted he feels his team let the occasion get to them. Last season’s winners toiled during a toothless first-half and, although they did create more after the interval, they found Fulton in their way and a hint of fortune missing when it was really needed.

“We are extremely disappointed,” Murray said. “We started really poorly and looked nervous. I understand that as players are human.

“We lost a really bad goal. But second half we were excellent. We just couldn’t get that goal and their keeper has had a couple of really good saves.

READ MORE: Hamilton 1 Raith 0 - Reghan Tumilty fires 10-man Accies to cup glory

“In footballing terms we were really good. But it gets to the stage the ball isn’t dropping for you and you start to think it’s not going to be your day.

“We have to pick ourselves up now. We can’t dwell on it. You don’t enjoy the wins too long so you certainly can’t dwell on defeats.

“Who knows in the long run this could be one of the best things to happen to us but at the moment it doesn’t feel like that.

“It’s about trying to push into the play-offs. If we play like we did in the first half we won’t have a chance but if we play like we did in the second we will have a really good chance.”