ROCKY BUSHIRI landed a killer late blow to send Ayr tumbling from the Scottish Cup.
The centre half bundled home at the back post just as a tie which hung in the balance looked set for extra time. But Ayr, who had matched their Premier League opposition for long spells, were undone almost with the last kick to fall on their sword at the death.
A crowd of almost 7,500 witnessed a cracking cup tie in which Ayr rose to the occasion, but the late strike was a cruel end to their bid to make the last eight. Boss Scott Brown was left to hail his team’s performance after they went toe to toe with the resurgent Hibees, who had been made to fight all the way for their place in the quarter finals.
He said: “They came here with their strongest team and showed our players a lot of respect. Our lads have played really well – especially the longer the game went and we battled all the way. We’re just disappointed to lose the goal so late. But we can take a lot from it to compete against a top team like that.
“We put up a great performance and we tried to control the game in that second half. We shouldn’t feel bitterly disappointed because we’ve proven if we can compete against a Hibs then we can go and compete with anyone, especially at Championship level.
“It shows where we’ve got to over the last year and we’re a happy team at this moment in time. It shows with the fans who came out in their thousands tonight and that’s brilliant for the club and the town. But we go again next Saturday now against Falkirk and it’s one game at a time and it’s another game against a top quality side.”
Brown had made two changes from the side which won at Hamilton last week with New Douglas Park goal hero Mark McKenzie starting at right wing back, while Cole McKinnon replaced Jamie Murphy in midfield.
And Ayr had the first big chance when Jay Henderson split the Hibs defence to send George Oakley through on goal, only for him to be denied by Hibs goalkeeper Jordan Smith. Martin Boyle shot straight at Harry Stone as Ayr survived at the other end after being caught in possession, before Boyle wasted a glorious chance when heading down and over the bar from a Jack Iredale cross just before half time.
But Ayr were firmly in the tie and grew into the contest during the second half with the impressive Connor McLennan going close from the edge of the box. Hibs remained a threat on the break and Boyle almost punished a slip by Lenny Agbaire when racing in behind but sent his effort wide of the target when he should have scored.
However, just as the tie looked set for an extra 30 minutes, Hibs struck at the death when a long throw from Iredale was flicked on by sub Kieron Bowie and Bushiri was able to knock home from point blank range. There was still time for Ayr to try and rescue it, though, and sub Jamie Murphy almost did so with seconds to go as his drive from distance was parried away by Smith before the whistle of Kevin Clancy called time up on Ayr’s efforts.