Scottish League Cup results: Third-tier Montrose beat Dundee United, Ayr United secure surprise win at Falkirk

July 15, 2026 3 Min Read

Updated on July 19, 2026

Scottish League Cup results: The Scottish domestic season continued its early start with the second round of matches in the Premier Sports Cup. The matches on July 14 saw a few SPFL teams in action against lower league opposition, and there were some surprises.

Montrose 1-0 Dundee United

League One side Montrose stunned top-flight Dundee United with a 1-0 win at Links Park. Jim Goodwin’s team is under pressure to improve after a seventh-place finish in Premiership last season, and this result won’t please the expectant Arabs.

Dundee United had looked good in their opening League Cup game against Stirling Albion last Saturday but only had a stoppage-time penalty winner to show for their efforts. In the game against Montrose, they looked good for large parts but lacked the cutting edge, and this time they were made to pay.

The Tangerines started off well against the third-tier side. Joshua Rawlins had a chance to get a clear shot away but chose to play a poor square ball. Teenage left-back Keir Gilligan looked a threat from his set-piece deliveries, but Montrose remained solid. They then took a surprise lead in the 37th minute after Ross Graham’s ill-timed back-pass to Jack Walton was intercepted by Graham Webster, who found the net.

In the second half, United continued to create chances but never really opened up the opposition defence. Panutche Camara’s glancing header late in the game was cleared off the line as The Gable Endies held on for a win.

Falkirk 0-1 Ayr United

Falkirk fell to a surprise defeat at home to Championship side Ayr United in the Group G clash. After an impressive start to the League Cup with a 5-0 hammering of Edinburgh City, the top-flight side failed to get going in their second competitive outing of the season.

A subdued first half saw Ayr United go ahead after Kevin Holt’s header from a Reece Lyon pass found the back of the net at the half-hour mark. The Bairns, who enjoyed a fruitful return to the Premiership last season with a sixth-place finish, looked bereft of ideas against Gary Naismith’s side.

After conceding, Falkirk huffed and puffed without really troubling their opposition, who looked likelier to add to their lead. Towards the final quarter of the game, John McGlynn’s team did put Ayr under pressure and had the chance to go level after Ethan Ross was tripped in the box by Kenzie Mitchell.

Midweek cup upsets 👀

Ayr United & Montrose both claimed top flight scalps on Tuesday evening 👏

Who impressed you on MD2? pic.twitter.com/lav1tdESF4
— SPFL (@spfl) July 15, 2026

Ross McIver, who scored a hat-trick in the win over Edinburgh City, stepped up to take the resulting penalty, but his effort was saved by Harry Stone. At the end, The Honest Men held on to move to the top of the group above Falkirk.