Dundee United dumped Hamilton out of the Scottish Cup in agonising style by netting four goals in the final 10 minutes at Tannadice.

The Terrors had struggled to break down their Second Division opponents and, for most of the game, it was the Accies who looked most like scoring.

But United substitute David Winters opened the scoring after 82 minutes and a Steven Thompson double and a Hasney Aljofree free-kick secured the win - and a meeting with Ayr in the next round.

This fourth-round tie had twice fallen foul of wet weather conditions when the pitch at Tannadice was deemed unplayable on both occasions.

But, once the game was finally underway, progression to the next round should have been a formality for Dundee United.

Unfortunately for Alex Smith's men, the Accies had other ideas.

Ally Dawson's side had enjoyed an unbeaten run of two months and they were determined to continue that record whether Dundee United liked it or not.

With three minutes on the clock, United made the obligatory attempt to stamp their authority on the game and demonstrate the difference between the SPL and Division Two.

Aljofree flighted a cross to Craig Easton who tried to thunder the shot home but the effort was ably held by Hamilton goalkeeper Ian MacFarlane.

Hamilton were unperturbed, however and two minutes later Ally Graham forced United goalkeeper Paul Gallacher into an impressive save that won the underdogs their first corner of the game.

Five minutes after that the Tannadice side had to rely on defender Jim Lauchlan to block a close-range Stuart Callaghan shot after he had met a Steven Renicks cross.

Academical continued to push forward and Gallacher was caught out when Sean Sweeney won possession in front of goal but his header was off-target - the ball fell to the feet of Martin Bonnar only for the Accies player to fire over the crossbar.

As Dundee United struggled to create much in front of goal the Accies continued to grow in stature.

After 33 minutes a Renicks cross was met by Michael Moore, he touched the ball onto Callaghan but the midfielder blasted the shot well over the crossbar.

Dundee United went in at half-time with the jeers of their own fans ringing in the ears but the restart offered little in the way of comfort for the Tannadice supporters.

A Mark Nelson free-kick after 47 minutes found Graham in the box and, although his header was easily held by Gallacher, Accies claimed the effort had been blocked by the hand of Stephen Wright.

The plea was ignored by referee Willie Young but Hamilton came close again just two minutes later when David McNiven's shot forced the Dundee United goalkeeper into an impressive save.

United's best chance came after 51 minutes when Charlie Miller showed incredible skill to take the ball past several Accies players and all the way into the box before unleashing the shot but MacFarlane did well to deny the midfielder.

The Terrors should have opened the scoring after 57 minutes. McConalogue squared the ball across goal to Miller in the six-yard box with only the Accies goalkeeper to beat but MacFarlane somehow managed to block the shot.

Two minutes later Miller broke through the middle before sending the ball out to Stephen Carson on the left flank - his cross picked out substitute Thompson who bulleted a header just over the crossbar.

The Tannadice side began to create more in front of goal but were still struggling to find the back of the net when Thompson cut the ball back to Miller and his thunderous volley cannoned off MacFarlane's body and over the crossbar.

When the goal finally came for Dundee United it was in agonising circumstances for MacFarlane, who had been so impressive throughout the game.

He managed to dive low to deny a Thompson shot but he spilled the ball and fellow substitute Winters was on hand to bundle the ball over the line after 82 minutes.

The Accies goalkeeper's night was about to go from bad to worse when he conceded the second just two minutes later.

He sliced the ball out into the path of Thompson who pounced to volley home into the back of the net.

MacFarlane's misery was compounded when Aljofree curled a free-kick into the top corner of the net after 86 minutes to wrap up the win and ensure progression in the Scottish Cup for Dundee United.

But the Tannadice side were now on a roll and Winters' cross was met by Thompson who knocked home his second of the the night in the final minute of the game.