Kilmarnock 1-2 Hamilton Academical

Dougie Imrie celebrates levelling the scores at Rugby Park

Hamilton Academical came from a goal behind to end Kilmarnock's resurgence in the league.

The hosts opened the scoring in the first half through Greg Kiltie and had chances to net again before the break.

Hamilton made them pay after Dougie Imrie and Ali Crawford struck with ruthless intent.

To add to Kilmarnock's woes, Lee Ashcroft was dismissed in time added on for pulling back Imrie as he raced through on goal.

There was barely a distinguishing feature between the two sides. That was a consequence of their similar styles and merits, and the game was such an even contest that the team's essentially cancelled each other out.

The most impressive interventions tended to come from Kilmarnock players in the opening half, with Mark O'Hara solid and intrepid at right-back, Kallum Higginbotham busy in midfield and Josh Magennis powerful up front.

Kiltie was the most prominent, although for a spell he would not have wished for the distinction. He twice spurned opportunities to score, with one effort saved and the other blocked, but he eventually revelled in his involvement.

Higginbotham's vision and touch were critical, as he sent his teammates through on goal, but Kiltie's finish was composed as he slipped his shot past Michael McGovern, the Hamilton goalkeeper.

Kilmarnock still had cause for regrets, though, as Magennis's header was saved and Topi Obadeyi volleyed wide, but the first-half was a satisfying spell for the home side.

Greg Kiltie is congratulated by his teammates after scoring for Kilmarnock

Hamilton had not been indifferent, but their attacking play was not as sharp. Ali Crawford was twice thwarted by the Kilmarnock goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald, and Imrie felt he had been bundled over inside the penalty area by Obadeyi.

A period of reflection was seized upon by the visitors. They were resurgent after the interval and Imrie equalised with a fierce volley that he lashed over MacDonald and in off the underside of the bar.

Dominance wasn't achieved by either side, but Hamilton were the more resourceful side in the final third.

Crawford was certainly the quickest to react as Greg Docherty made space on the right to cross, and Crawford turned the ball into the net from inside the six yard box.

Kilmarnock did not succumb to a sense of resignation and there was a fresh impetus as they chased an equaliser.

Hamilton had to defend robustly, although there was also good fortune after McGovern dived to stop Kevin McHattie's free-kick. The ball broke out towards Kiltie, but was scrambles clear before he could finish.

Josh Magennis wins a header for Kilmarnock

The home side's determination to equalise was occasionally troublesome for them. When a set-piece was cleared, Hamilton broke swiftly upfield on a counter attack and Imrie broke clear only to be bundled over by Ashcroft.

It was the edge of the area, but a red card wasn't shown and a penalty wasn't awarded. There was further frustration for Hamilton when Ziggy Gordon's header was cleared off the line by Craig Slater.

Even in time added on, the drama did not relent. When Imrie broke clear again, Ashcroft tangled with he forward again, pulling him to the ground. This time, he was shown a straight red card by the referee Don Robertson.