A Dean Shiels goal in extra-time gave Kilmarnock a deserved 1-0 victory over Ayr United in the first Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final.
Killie made a positive start and were denied the lead when John Robertson headed a chip from Garry Hay off the line before Kevin Cuthbert clutched a powerful shot from the Kilmarnock midfielder.
Paul Heffernan thought he had given Killie the lead in the early stages of the second half but his curling shot deflected off Alan Trouten and dropped just off target.
And Cuthbert again thwarted Killie with a fantastic double save to keep out efforts from James Dayton and Gary Harkins.
Cuthbert continued to frustrate the SPL team with a superb save to keep out a curling Shiels 25-yarder and then making a block to prevent Manuel Pascali scoring from the resulting corner.
Opposite number Cammy Bell was finally called into action in the dying minutes of regulation time to save Andy Geggan's swerving shot before Cuthbert tipped a fierce drive from Hay over the bar.
But with 11 minutes of extra-time remaining at Hampden, Shiels crashed the ball home after Cuthbert had produced yet another remarkable double stop in a goalmouth scramble.
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