THE dark clouds that have been hanging over Rugby Park during Angelo Alessio’s stuttering start to life in the Kilmarnock hotseat may finally start to clear after they secured an extra-time Betfred Cup win over Hamilton.
Three successive defeats, including the humiliating Europa League qualification exit to Welsh part-time outfit Connah’s Quay Nomad, meant pressure was already beginning to build on Alessio at the start of his tenure at Steve Clarke’s successor.
But as torrential rain lashed down in Ayrshire, substitute Dom Thomas squeezed the ball home at the far post during the second period of extra-time to secure a crucial 1-0 win and seal Kilmarnock’s passage into the last eight of the competition.
Moments after Thomas’ match-winning striker the rain eased up and glorious sunshine split the sky. Those of a Kilmarnock persuasion will be hoping that is a sign of better times ahead under their Italian manager.
Certainly, Alessio hopes this vital cup win can kick-start his managerial tenure at Kilmarnock.
"This win is important for the team and myself also," he said. "I am very happy as it was important to progress in the cup and to win this match.
"This can be a new start for us after three successive defeats. It was important for me as the manager to win this match as there was pressure after three defeats but I am happy for the team.
"We can now go into future matches with more confidence but we have to work hard and improve a lot.”
Kilmarnock, as they had the previous weekend when the sides met on league duty, dominated possession, especially in the first half, but they lacked the guile and craft to unlock Hamilton’s well organised defence who were expertly marshalled by Sam Stubbs during the regulation 90 minutes.
When Owain Fon Williams parried a Stephen O’Donnell cross into the path of Rory McKenzie the Kilmarnock winger was denied the opener by a wonderful Aaron McGowan block that perfectly encapsulated Hamilton’s desire to keep their hosts at bay.
O’Donnell then tested Fon Williams with a crisp strike from 25-yards and although the goalkeeper could only push it out, Stubbs was perfectly positioned to react and turn the loose ball behind for a corner before any of Kilmarnock’s front men could latch on to the rebound. From the corner Kirk Broadfoot, who was wearing the captain’s armband as Gary Dicker dropped to the bench, sent a header straight at Fon Williams.
Five minutes after the interval Hamilton threatened the breakthrough when Scott McMann whipped in a wonderful cross that seemed destined for the head of George Oakley before a timely intervention from Stuart Findlay, who stretched out a leg to divert it away from Hamilton’s frontman.
Eamonn Brophy had a sight of goal but that was quickly closed off by the impressive Stubbs and later, when Kilmarnock’s main attacking created space in the penalty box, he rolled possession back to Liam Miller but the substitute took a poor first touch and with his second blazed a shot high over the crossbar.
Towards the end of the 90 minutes McGowan forced Laurentiu Branescu into a fine save and the match was extended into extra time.
At the beginning of the additional 30 minutes, Hamilton substitute Marios Ogkmpoe was unable to adjust his feet quickly enough when Branescu pushed the ball into his path and he stabbed an effort wide.
Then, in the 113th minute, the deadlock was broken when Thomas collected Greg Taylor’s deep cross at the far post and after what seemed an eternity to get the ball under control, he managed to squeeze it beyond Fon Williams and settle the cup tie before the lottery of penalties.
Hamilton head coach Brian Rice was proud of their performance despite the cup exit.
“My young team put up a good spirited performance and I thought there was only one team going to win it," he said. "We looked dangerous and that we'd snuffed out their threat, but it wasn't to be. We came down here last year and got beat 5-0, got run over the top of. I'm sitting here proud as hell of my boys. We can look in the mirror and know we gave it a right go.”
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