The Co-operative Insurance Cup’s seeding process did not go exactly to plan on Saturday as two First Division sides were knocked out of at the first attempt by lower league opponents.
Cowdenbeath went down 2-1 at Third Division Clyde and Stirling Albion lost by the same scoreline to Second Division Forfar and to add to the unexpected outcomes Elgin also beat higher league opposition with Ayr United making the long trip home from Morayshire on the back of a 3-2 defeat.
At Broadwood, summer signing Marc McCusker struck two fine goals in the second half to put the Bully Wee in the driving seat and the Cumbernauld side held on for a fine win despite Mark Ramsay pulling a headed goal back with 12 minutes left.
Clyde head coach Stuart Millar said, “It was a strange game we dominated the first 25 minutes and then Cowdenbeath dominated. We had a word with the players at half time and I thought we were terrific again in the second half.”
The Bully Wee rearguard was stretched near the end, however they held on with Millar adding, “They came back at us in a 2-4-4 formation but we held on. The win was the culmination of hard work in pre-season and also a good performance at Partick Thistle last week.”
Ramsay’s goal came during a late attacking charge that Nicholl’s old chum Jimmy Calderwood would have been proud of, however no equaliser came and Central Park boss Jimmy Nicholl has told his players to develop or they will be in for a tough season.
Nicholl said, “The players need to learn that we cannot show players inside in the final third of the pitch. I am asking wide players to do defensive work as well and if we do not learn how to do it we will be well beaten in the First Division. There are teams there that will punish us severely if we keep allowing players inside towards our goal.”
Nicholl added, “We can handle crosses okay but you cannot let teams attack you like that, I don’t want to take anything from Clyde but it is a set-back as we wanted to progress in the cup. If we learn from it then it has not been a total disaster.”
Forfar boss Dick Campbell had reason to smile at Forthbank as his sons , Iain and Ross, had the Loons two ahead early in the second half and they held off a Stirling comeback that started with a Nathan Taggart goal.
Manager Campbell said afterwards, “I thought we deserved the win and it is a pretty good way to open our season.”
Opposite number John O’Neill lamented, “We were not good enough and I am really disappointed. We need to bring in strikers and that is my priority this week.”
Elgin defeated Ayr United 3-2 at Borough Briggs with six foot eight inch RAF Fireman Paul Millar netting the winner in the final minute of extra time.
The day had started brightly for the Honest Men with Steven McKeown firing them in front after seventeen minutes, however things started turning against them when Jonathan Tiffoney was sent off on 38 minutes. Craig Gunn levelled from the spot just before half time and he then put Ross Jack’s side in front with little over 20 minutes left.
Ayr substitute Aaron Connolly equalised to force extra time and penalties looked on the cards until Millar’s late intervention.
A delighted Jack beamed, “I remained confident we would get a winner and that is how things turned out.”
Ayr boss Brian Reid was not so joyful saying, “We had seven players booked and a man sent off and there was hardly a tackle in the game. The game was ruined when we went down to ten men.”
The only SPL side in the competition at this stage, Inverness Caledonian Thistle had no such problems against Queen’s Park sending the Spiders back home to Glasgow on the back of a 3-0 defeat despite missing Richie Foran and Jonny Hayes through injury and losing Grant Munro and debutant Chris Innes to knocks during the game.
Lee Cox netted in the first half with Eric Odhiambo and Ross Tokely scoring in the second to leave manager Terry Butcher saying, “It was disappointing to pick up further injuries but there were was some exciting play for us as well. We need to work on a couple of areas but there is still two weeks to get ready for the SPL.”
Hampden Head Coach Gardner Speirs commented, “The guys gave everything over the ninety minutes and I don’t have any complaints but we can play a bit better than we showed.”
There was little danger of a shock at Stranraer where Allan Moore’s Morton clicked into gear with summer signing Stewart Kean grabbing a hat-trick and Peter Weatherson a double as the Greenock men romped home 7-1.
Fellow new recruits Graeme Holmes and Kevin Kelbie also netted as Moore came closing to equalling the eight goal tally the Stirling side he managed scored on his last trip to Stair Park in January 2009.
Kean had netted three times and Holmes had scored once before the home side pulled a goal back from Stuart McColm. Weatherson netted twice before Kelbie rounded things off to leave Moore purring, “I am delighted especially as we had been struggling to score. Stranraer made it really difficult for 25 minutes and then we took over.”
Blues boss Keith Knox said, “It was a right bad day at the office and the opening two goals we lost summed it up.”
Montrose manager Steven Tweed’s return to Dens Park pitch he graced as player was not a happy one as the big centre half required to be substituted after only 20 minutes through injury and his young side went down 3-0.
Leigh Griffiths netted a second half penalty either side of Nicky Reilly’s two goals to leave manager Gordon Chisholm saying, “Montrose were stuffy opponents but we are through and kept a clean sheet so no complaints from me.”
Tweed said, “We were doing okay and were still in with a shout until the penalty.”
Andy Kirk scored twice as Dunfermline defeated Arbroath for the second week running, however unlike last week’s 1-0 win, the goals were flying in at East End Park as the Pars won 5-2.
The Red Lichties took the lead when player/ boss Paul Sheerin nodded in after 12 minutes however Kirk levelled almost straight away.
The scores remained tied until 17 minutes from time when youngster Paul Willis put Dunfermline back in front with Kirk and Steven McDougall quickly adding goals. Gavin Swankie pulled a goal back only for Joe Cardle to add a fifth for Jim McIntyre’s men.
McIntrye said afterwards, “I am delighted that Paul Willis has grabbed his first senior goal and delighted to be through. Arbroath kept on fighting but those three quick goals made us comfortable.”
Sheerin praised his opponents saying, “We have progressed but once Dunfermline got in front they were excellent.”
Scottish Cup Finalists Ross County squeezed past Livingston 2-1 with Andy Barrowman heading home the winner just two minutes after team-mate Ian Vigurs had been dismissed midway through the second half.
It was the Staggies first win in fourteen years over Livi and manager Derek Adams was relieved saying, “To play with 10 men for 25 minutes was difficult but we are through and that is the main thing.”
Opposite number Gary Bollan was disappointed, “For them to score a goal when they were down to ten was disappointing as we had switched off.”
Raith Rovers won the Fife Derby in style, defeating East Fife 4-1 with Gregory Tade scoring twice and new-boy John Baird having the Kirkcaldy men out of sight before half time.
East Fife’s Bobby Linn grabbed a goal back, however on-loan Hearts striker Jamie Mole quickly re-established the three goal cushion.
Stark’s Park boss John McGlynn reckons that the 5-0 defeat by Dundee United in midweek helped his side saying, “We were taught a lesson in that game and we showed against East Fife that we had learned.”
New Bayview boss Steve Crawford commented, “We came up a bit short.”
Queen of the South brushed Second Division Dumbarton aside 5-1 with Derek Holmes’ two early goals paving the way to victory. Holmes headed in and then sent home a penalty after a Ben Gordon handball before former Scotland player Allan Johnston grabbed his first goal for the Doonhamers.
Derek Carcary pulled a goal back only for Rocco Quinn and Gavin Reilly to complete the scoring.
Dumfries boss Kenny Brannigan was pleased saying, “Derek’s early goals settled us down.”
Sons boss Jim Chapman agreed saying, “We were never able to use our game plan after the loss of the two quick goals.”
Partick Thistle came out on top in their first ever meeting with Annan Athletic, however it took a late Simon Donnelly goal for the Glasgow side to progress 1-0.
Firhill manager Ian McCall was pleased to get the win for the travelling Thistle support, however he recognised that the game was not a classic saying, “It was a horrible game because the wind ruined it. Annan never had us any under pressure and I am glad our fans are away home happy.”
Annan boss Harry Cairney said, “We had planned to keep things tight and then go for it late on and it almost worked.”
Dennis Wyness also struck late to separate Peterhead and Berwick Rangers at Balmoor with manager Neale Cooper delighted with his side’s efforts at both ends of the pitch. Cooper said, “That is two wins so far this season, six goals and none conceded and I am pleased with that.”
Berwick manager Jimmy Crease praised his players saying, “I can not fault their efforts.”
Scott Gemmill grabbed the only goal of the Lanarkshire derby to ensure Airdrie defeated Albion Rovers in a game that finished ten a side. Gemmill struck midway through the second half before team-mate Gary Muir was dismissed with the Coatbridge side’s Steve Canning joining him shortly afterwards for an early bath.
Diamonds boss Jimmy Boyle said, “This gives our youngsters a huge boost ahead of the league season starting.”
Rovers boss Paul Martin commented, “We never had a cutting edge but our keeper had hardly anything to do either.”
Brechin City came from behind to win 3-1 at Stenhousemuir at Ochilview where summer signing Grant Anderson had given the Warriors an early lead. Gerry McLachlan and former Stenhousemuir player Craig Malloy scored before half time before regular goal-grabber Rory McAllister sealed the win.
Glebe Park boss Jim Weir said, “I am delighted to be through as competitions like this are important to us.”
Stenny boss John Coughlin growled, “If you are going to give away cheap goals they you are going to get beat.”
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