Saints leave it late - Premier Sports Cup round-up

Uche Ikpeazu's goal secured three points for St Johnstone

St Johnstone left it late to beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle and stay in touch with leaders East Kilbride in Premier Sports Cup Group F.

After an injury ravaged debut season in Perth last term, Uche Ikpeazu scored his first Saints goal in the 90th minute to settle the match.

The 1-0 win followed last week's 3-1 defeat of East Kilbride, who have bounced back with successive wins.

The SPFL newcomers followed Tuesday's 4-2 win at Raith Rovers with a 4-1 win away to League 2 rivals Elgin City.

Jack Leitch struck twice in the opening 21 minutes and Jack Maciver reduced Elgin's deficit with a penalty before half-time.

Nathan Flanagan netted from close range and John Robertson added another from outside the area to round off the visitors' victory.

Raith and Inverness are both on three points and, like Saints, have two games to play while East Kilbride and Elgin have one fixture left.

Three top-flight sides - Livingston, Motherwell and St Mirren - picked up wins while Falkirk took a bonus point but Dundee's second straight loss likely has them heading out of the competition at an early stage.

Group A

Falkirk took a bonus point with a penalty shootout win over Cove Rangers following a 0-0 draw.

In the group's other fixture, League 2 Spartans beat Highland League Brechin City 2-0 with a goal in each half.

Mark Stowe struck the first and a Cillian Sheridan own goal sealed the hosts' win.

League 2 Spartans lead Falkirk by a point at the top of the group while Cove are a point below the Bairns and a point above Queen's Park.

Spartans and pointless Brechin have one game left, their group rivals all having two matches to play.

Group B

Ross County moved above Queen of the South into second with victory at Palmerston.

Jay Henderson struck the only goal and County trail Partick Thistle by two points and sit a point above Queens and Edinburgh City. The top three all have two games to play.

Edinburgh took the bonus point from their penalty shootout with Stranraer after no goals in 90 minutes, the hosts prevailing 5-3 on spot-kicks.

Group C

League 1 Alloa Athletic lead the standings with nine points out of nine after stunning Dundee 1-0.

Another third-tier side, Montrose, were 4-1 winners over Lowland League Bonnyrigg Rose.

Kallum Higginbotham put Bonnyrigg ahead from close range on the stroke of half-time.

That was cancelled out by Corrie Fellows' own goal early in the second period and Ewan Loudon put Montrose in front for the first time.

Terry Masson and Craig Wighton added further goals for the hosts.

Montrose trail second-placed Airdrieonians by three points, with Alloa three points clear of the Diamonds. Airdrie, Montrose and Dundee all have two more games to play while Alloa and pointless Bonnyrigg have one.

Group D

In the all-Championship tie, Ayr United beat Arbroath 4-0.

Curtis Main scored either side of the break and Jude Bonnar and George Oakley added late strikes.

St Mirren lead the group by a point after an 8-2 win over Annan Athletic. Second-placed Ayr hold a four-point cushion over Forfar Athletic and Arbroath, who are both a point above Annan.

The Buddies and Annan have one game left with the other three teams in the group still to play twice.

Group E

Neil Lennon's Dunfermline Athletic picked up their first points with an emphatic 4-0 away win over Dumbarton.

Josh Cooper opened and completed the scoring, with Chris Kane and Andrew Tod on target in between.

Hearts are six points clear at the top after beating Stirling Albion 4-0. The Pars, Hamilton Academical and the Sons all have three points and Stirling are bottom without a point. The top and bottom sides have one game left, the teams in between have two.

Group G

Clyde scored twice in added time to defeat Peterhead.

The hosts had led with eight minutes of regulation time to play through Kieran Shanks' penalty but Craig Howie headed the visitors level in the 96th minute and a Caleb Goldie own goal two minutes later gave Clyde victory.

Leaders Motherwell won 1-0 at Stenhousemuir and they are two points above Greenock Morton, who in turn are two points above Clyde with Peterhead and Stenny yet to register a point.

Well and Peterhead have one game left and the other three sides have two group fixtures remaining.

Group H

East Fife drew level on points with League 1 rivals Kelty Hearts with a 1-0 win at New Central Park, courtesy of Alan Trouten's solitary second-half goal.

Premiership Livingston beat Highland League Brora Rangers 2-0.

Kilmarnock and Livi sit on six points while Kelty and the Fifers are on three points with Brora Rangers bottom without a point.

Livi and Brora have one game left while Kilmarnock, Kelty and East Fife have two games to play.