Scottish League Cup results: The final round of the group stages of the Premier Sports took place on July 24. Spots in the last 16 were up for grabs and as such there was plenty to unpack.
Dundee 4-0 Clyde
It took a much-improved second half performance by Dundee to secure progress in the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup. The 4-0 win over League Two Clyde ensured the Premiership side go through as one of the three best placed runners up.
The Group D encounter at Dens Park saw Dundee struggle to open up Clyde’s defence in the first 45 minutes. They saw more of the ball but a lack of a killer final ball and mostly passive saw their opponents hold firm. Simon Murray headed a fantastic chance wide and Drey Wright saw his ambitious volley from 30 yards go off the crossbar.
The Dark Blues were also vulnerable at the back and Clyde would regret not punishing them. Mistakes inside the box allowed the Bully Wee to have chances at the goal, but their efforts were blocked. The second half saw Steven Pressley’s side come out with more intent and were rewarded inside three minutes.
Alan Forrest was played in by Murray and he curled a finish past Jay Hogarth to put Dundee ahead and from their on, they took control. Clyde didn’t throw themselves open and still remained in the game until the 70th minute. Forrest saw his cross in the box hit Liam Rooney’s arm and Murray stepped up to dispatch the resulting spot kick.
Joe Westley scored his team’s third five minutes later, volleying in emphatically after a cross from Wright. With Dundee sailing, Westley scored again after Ryan Astley flicked on a header. The 4-0 win gives Dundee second spot in Group D behind Ross County of League One.
Ayr United 4-1 Alloa Athletic
Ayr United moved to the last 16 after topping Group G thanks to a convincing win against third-tier Alloa Athletic. The Wasps had upset Premiership side Falkirk in the previous game but were no match for the Championship side.
The game at Somerset Park started slowly but then saw three goals from the home side in the first half. Owen Stirton scored to put The Honest Men ahead in the 15th minute after Ben Summers’ shot was blocked. Three minutes later, they doubled their lead when Stirton was fouled in the box and Kieran Shanks converted the penalty.
Stirton was at the center of action again seven minutes before the interval. A ball from the center opened up Alloa’s defence and Shanks played it on for Stirton who scored his second of the game.
The Wasps did pull back a goal at the hour mark. Cameron O’Donnell looked more a threat after moving into the center and scored with an effort into the bottom corner. Andy Graham’s side had the chance to cut the deficit to just one goal but Scott Taggart missed a penalty. Ayr then wrapped up the game in the 85th minute with that man again- Stirton again in the thick of it.
He set up Jamie Murphy, who finished high into the Alloa net to seal resounding performance by Gary Naysmith’s side.
Scottish League Cup results
Group A
Aberdeen 3-0 Kelty Hearts
Queen’s Park 3-1 Queen of the South
Group B
Arbroath 1-0 Stirling Albion
Montrose 0-2 The Spartans
Group C
Dumbarton 2-0 Cove Rangers
St. Mirren 0-1 Dunfermline Athletic
Group D
Airdrieonians 0-3 Ross County
Dundee 4-0 Clyde
Group E
Forfar Athletic 3-1 Brechin City
Stenhousemuir 0-0 Livingston (Stenhousemuir win 3-1 on penalties)
Group F
Greenock Morton 0-1 Inverness CT
St. Johnstone 1-1 East Fife (East Fife win 5-4 on penalties)
Group G
Ayr United 4-1 Alloa Athletic
Falkirk 3-0 Stranraer
Group H
Hamilton Academical 5-0 Elgin City
Peterhead 0-0 Kilmarnock (Peterhead win 5-4 on penalties)
