Ayr sent their fiercest rivals crashing from the Scottish Cup for the second
year in a row in a storming tie before more than 10,000 rans at rain-soaked
Somerset Park.
And this time they went one better than last year's 2-0 win as they left
Killie dead and buried with a three-goal show.
Andy Lyons sent Ayr on the way to a famous win after 29 minutes when he
cracked home a fierce left-foot drive from 18 yards.
The speedy Glynn Hurst set it up with a great run down the left, sweeping past
three challenges before finding John Davies.
His shot was blocked by team-mate Andy Walker but the ball fell kindly to
Lyons who lashed it home from the edge of the box.
Killie threw everything at Ayr in the search for the equaliser and the home
defence came under heavy pressure particularly at the start of the second half.
But Ayr soaked up the waves of attacks to deal Killie a hammer blow in the
81st minute and leave them with only 10 men.
Skipper Ray Montgomery, who had earlier been booked, wrestled Hurst to the
ground just inside the box and he was immediately sent packing by referee Willie
Young.
Ex-Celtic star Walker fired home the penalty kick to put Ayr in command.
Two minutes later the home side put the seal on a tremendous show with a third
goal, again from the penalty spot.
This time Martin Baker sent Gary Teale crashing to the turf and Walker again
converted the penalty, this time with an arrogant chip.
Killie could not believe what had hit them and Ayr finished on a real high
with Teale firing wide in a rousing attack near the end.
Killie boss Bobby Williamson described last year's defeat at Somerset as the
worst day of his life.
But yet again he was suffering the agonies as his Premier League team were
left a well beaten and ragged side.
Killie had entered this game with the meanest defence in Scottish football but
they had no answer to the pace of Ayr strikers Hurst and Teale.
Ian Durrant was Killie's main man early on forcing a series of corners in the
opening half hour and Ayr keeper David Castilla looked decidedly uncomfortable
as he was forced to deal with a succession of crosses.
A Durrant corner after four minutes was punched away by Castilla under
pressure.
Then Gary Holt fired just wide following an Ally McCoist lay-off.
At the start of the second half Killie looked the hungrier side and Ally
Mitchell swirled a drive just wide of the target.
Then a clever turning shot from former Rangers star McCoist across the face of
goal was deflected for a corner by a desperate home defence.
McCoist hit a free-kick into the wall and Kevin McGowne had a glancing header
from a Durrant dead-ball kick well saved.
Just when Killie's pressure looked like forcing an equaliser Ayr hit them with
a sting in the tail to secure a win over their local rivals which their fans
will cherish for years.
Teams:
Ayr: Castilla, Robertson, Traynor, Craig, Winnie, Teale, Millen,
Davies, Lyons (Reynolds 85), Hurst, Walker.
Subs Not Used: Welsh, Ferguson.
Booked: Winnie.
Goals: Lyons 29, Walker 81 pen, 83 pen.
Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Montgomerie, McGowne, Baker,
Reilly, Holt (Mahood 74), Durrant, Roberts, McCoist, Mitchell.
Subs Not Used: Henry, Lauchlan.
Sent Off: Montgomerie (81).
Booked: Mitchell, Montgomerie, McGowne, Baker.
Att: 10,153
Ref: W Young (Clarkston).
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