St Johnstone suffer shock defeat - League Cup round-up

Simon Murray scored twice at Dundee's temporary home at Glebe Park, Brechin

St Johnstone suffered a surprise defeat away to League 1 hosts Alloa Athletic in the Premier Sports Cup as Dundee became the first side to secure progress from the group stage.

The Dark Blues needed two late goals to beat third-tier Annan Athletic, while Aberdeen had to come from behind to secure victory over Championship visitors Airdrieonians in Jimmy Thelin's first home game as manager.

Premiership rivals Ross County also had to come from behind to beat Hamilton Academical.

But Dundee United are in danger of failing to qualify despite easing to victory over Buckie Thistle, as are St Johnstone after Craig Levein's side slipped to third place behind hosts Alloa and East Fife in Group F.

There was also a surprise defeat for Partick Thistle as the Championship side lost 3-2 at home to traditional rivals Clyde, now managed by former Firhill boss Ian McCall.

Group A

Aberdeen 2-1 Airdrieonians: The visitors took the lead five minutes from the break through a low drive in a crowded penalty box from Ben Wilson, the fifth goal of the season already for the striker signed from Cliftonville.

However, Graeme Shinnie's low drive deflected home four minutes after half time then the created the second on the break for Leighton Clarkson to fire home the 58th-minute winner.

East Kilbride 1-3 Queen of the South: The Lowland League champions took the lead through Sean Fagan after 33 minutes, but three goals in the final four minutes of the first half from Josh Walker, Reece Lyon and Brennan Dickenson put the League 1 visitors in control.

The hosts also had Andrew McDonald sent off for a second bookable offence 15 minutes from time.

Group B

Buckie Thistle 2-5 Dundee United: Summer signing Kristijan Trapanosvki scored twice and Kevin Holt contributed two penalties for the visitors.

Trapanosvki got the ball rolling after 19 minutes and a Holt penalty had them two up by the break against the Highland League champions.

Joe McCabe pulled one back three minutes into the second half, but Trapanosvki and fellow summer arrival David Babunski put United 4-1 ahead before two more spot kicks - the first for Buckie's Jack MacIver and then Holt with 13 minutes left.

Stenhousemuir 1-4 Ayr United: Ross Taylor gave the League 2 champions a sixth-minute lead, but George Oakley equalised two minutes later and Frankie Musonda put the visitors ahead midway through the first half before second-half goals from Anton Dowds and Jay Henderson.

The results mean United top the group on nine points after playing all their matches, but Ayr, who face Buckie, and Falkirk, who play their derby against Stenhousemuir, could both overtake them on Saturday with victories.

Group C

Kelty Hearts 0-1 Peterhead: The third-tier hosts were unable to build on Saturday's shock win over Hibernian as Max Barry's 27th-minute goal was enough to give the League 2 visitors a surprise victory.

Queen's Park 4-0 Elgin City: Two goals within four minutes shortly before half time from Roddy MacGregor and Sean Welsh put the hosts in control and Dom Thomas and Joshua Scott added two more after the break.

Hibs, Saturday's visitors Peterhead and Queen's Park, who host Kelty, are all tied on six points heading into their final games.

Group D

Dundee 3-1 Annan Athletic: Summer signing Simon Murray scored twice on his return to the Dark Blues, but Annan threatened a shock after Tommy Goss equalised soon after the striker's 34th-minute opener.

However, Murray struck again with five minutes remaining and Seb Palmer-Houlden in stoppage time to put the hosts two points above the visitors to secure top place in the group with a game to spare.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0-0 Arbroath (3-5pens): Disappointing League Cup campaigns continued for both League 1 sides as they failed to find the net until the visitors took the bonus point after the penalty shoot-out.

Group E

Cove Rangers 0-2 Livingston: A Finlay Murray own goal within six minutes put the Championship side ahead and Liam Sole secured the win with four minutes remaining to hand the Championship visitors a third straight win at the top of the group.

The Spartans 1-0 Forfar Athletic: A Blair Henderson goal four minutes from time from Blair Henderson was enough to give the hosts victory over their League 2 rivals and sit second in the group.

Group F

Alloa Athletic 3-2 St Johnstone: Morgyn Neill put the hosts ahead nine minutes after the break, but the lead lasted only a minute thanks to Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka.

The Premiership visitors had Aaron Essel sent off for violent conduct after 64 minutes and two goals from Luke Rankin within the final six minutes handed the League 1 side a famous win despite Jack Sanders' stoppage-time reply.

East Fife 4-0 Brechin City: Goals from Liam Newton, Nathan Austin and Scott Shepherd had East Fife three ahead by half-time against the Highland League visitors and Austin added his second moments after the break.

Those results mean Alloa top the group on eight points ahead of their meeting with Greenock Morton, with the Fifers one behind and Saints another point further back as the latter two go head-to-head on Saturday.

Group G

Montrose 2-1 Edinburgh City: Craig Smith's opener after seven minutes gave Montrose an ideal start, Connor Young equalised after 29 minutes, but Blair Lyons secured the win after 65 minutes.

Partick Thistle 2-3 Clyde: Aidan Fitzpatrick gave the hosts an ideal start after five minutes, but a 27th-minute own goal from Lee Ashcroft levelled the scores and Logan Dunachie gave the visitors a surprise half-time lead.

Brian Graham levelled on the hour, but Dunachie's second secured a surprise away win with four minutes left.

Defeat leaves Thistle two points behind Saturday's hosts Motherwell, with Clyde level in second as they face Montrose.

Group H

Hamilton Academical 1-2 Ross County: Oli Shaw, the summer striker arrival from Barnsley, gave Hamilton an early lead, but County debutant Ronan Hale replied after 25 minutes and fellow striker Jordan White added another three minutes later to give the Premiership side a third straight win at the top of the group.

Stirling Albion 2-2 Stranraer (4-2pens): Goals from Cameron McKinley and Ally Roy looked to have given Stirling victory, but goals within two minutes from Ryan Edgar and Deryn Lang gave Stranraer a draw, although the hosts took the shoot-out bonus point.