Canning frustrated after Hamilton bow out of Betfred Cup

Posted Sunday, July 29, 2018 by PA

Boss Martin Canning was let frustrated after Hamilton slipped out of the Betfred Cup with a 1-1 home draw against Lanarkshire rivals Airdrieonians at the Hope CBD Stadium

Accies striker Rakish Bingham scored with a drive in the 61st minute before substitute Joao Vitoria levelled with seven minutes remaining.

The home side gained a bonus point with a 3-0 win in the penalty shoot-out but it left them on six points, not enough to qualify for the knockout stages.

Canning said: “It’s been disappointing as we’d expect to go through from that group.

“There has been a big turnaround in players and it will take time to settle.

“But losing to Annan away put us on the back foot and we should also probably have beaten Livingston.

“We beat Berwick but didn’t win against Airdrie, so it’s been disappointing overall.

“No disrespect to the teams in the group, but we should be qualifying from it.

“We should be looking to finish top – or at least be qualifying out of it.”

In the penalty shoot-out, Hamilton keeper Gary Woods saved the first three spot kicks from Ryan Conroy, Sean Crighton, and Dale Carrick with Adam Phillips, Sam Kelly and Bingham netting for the Ladbrokes Premiership side.

Airdrieonians boss Stephen Findlay, who side ended up with seven points, four behind winners Livingston, said: “The boys are absolutely gutted in there.

“I have just said to them that they have taken an established Premiership team all the way today and their performances in the Betfred Cup have been tremendous.”