9 Mar 2009

Rangers into Cup semi-final

7:07 am on 9 March 2009

Holders Rangers have booked their place in the semi-finals of this season's Scottish football Cup with a 5-1 win over Hamilton at Ibrox.

Rangers, who kicked-off knowing arch-rivals Celtic had been knocked out of the tournament after the Hoops' shock 1-nil quarter-final loss away to St Mirren yesterday, took the lead through Steven Whittaker in the 15th minute.

Rocco Quinn equalised 11 minutes later but from then it was all Rangers with Kyle Lafferty and Aaron Niguez, thanks to a retaken penalty, adding further goals before half-time.

Steve Davis made it 4-1 early in the second-half before Lafferty got on the scoresheet again nine minutes from time in a match Hamilton finished with 10 men.

For Rangers, who lost ground in the Scottish Premier League in midweek after a surprise loss to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, this was the ideal pick-me-up.

Dunfermline and Aberdeen must replay after a 1-1 draw, but Falkirk won 1-nil at Inverness in yesterday's other quarter-final.

In the semi-finals Rangers will play St Mirren and Falkirk will play Aberdeen or Dunfermline.