Soccer – Scottish Cup:Ross County gave themselves another chance to avenge their Scottish Cup final defeat by Dundee United after holding the defending champions to a 0-0 draw in the fourth round at Tannadice.
The underdogs had the ball in the net as they pressed following a poor first half but Andrew Barrowman's goal was disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper.
United forced them back in the final half hour but they lacked a clinical edge in the absence of the suspended David Goodwillie and County earned a fifth opportunity to beat the Tayside club in cup competitions in two seasons.
Resolute defending also saw Ayr frustrate Hibernian with a goalless at Easter Road and force a replay.
Derek Riordan had the ball in the second division side's net after 38 minutes only to be pulled back for offside, helped Liam Miller's second-half volley onto the bar and then had a point-blank effort saved by David Crawford late on as Hibs failed to breach the visitors' defence.
Ayr, who showed an enthusiasm and work rate lacking in their hosts, claimed a deserved draw to heap further misery on Hibs boss Colin Calderwood and could have won it only for substitute Andy Rodgers to be denied by Mark Brown in stoppage time.
St Mirren face a tricky trip to Peterhead for their replay after being held to a goalless draw at home by the second division side.
Buddies midfielder Patrick Cregg cracked a shot against the post early in the first half but that was as close as the SPL side came to scoring in a frustrating afternoon for them at New St Mirren Park.
A first-half hat-trick from Chris Maguire ensured East Fife would not be the latest lower league side to claim the scalp of Aberdeen in a cup competition.
The Dons, who have been dumped out of the Scottish Cup by lower league sides in the last three seasons, eased into the fifth round with a comfortable win over the Second Division outfit.
Maguire struck three times and Scott Vernon grabbed another in a ruthless first half performance from the Dons that earned them an unassailable 4-0 lead.
Vernon added a fifth after the break and substitute Josh Magennis netted a late sixth as the Pittodrie side, already with a League Cup semi-final to look forward to, booked their place in the next round.
Dani Sanchez and top scorer Adam Rooney's stoppage time goals saw Inverness dump lower league counterparts Elgin City out of the fourth round.
Nigel Hasselbaink was the hero as Hamilton finally claimed their first home win of the season as they beat 10-man Alloa 2-0.
Simon Mensing saw a late penalty saved after Alloa goalkeeper Stephen Robertson had been sent off before Flavio Paixao sealed the win in injury time as the majority of the 1,054 crowd headed home happy for once thanks to the win against the second division side.
Montrose and Dunfermline will noth be in the fifth round draw after drawing 2-2.
Paul Tosh scored twice for third division Montrose with Patrick Clarke and Andy Kirk on target for first division leaders Dunfermline.
Scottish Cup Fourth Round Results
Inverness 2 Elgin 0
Dundee United 0 Ross County 0
Aberdeen 6 East Fife 0
Hibernian 0 Ayr United 0
St Mirren 0 Peterhead 0
Hamilton 2 Alloa 0
