30 – Kilmarnock moved to the top of Premier Sports Cup Group B thanks to a 3-0 victory over Montrose at Links Park. Kerr McInroy, Daniel Armstrong and Oli Shaw were all on target for Derek McInnes’ side as they bounced back from their midweek bonus point shoot-out loss to Partick Thistle. Saturday’s match was Killie’s first trip to Montrose in over 30 years – their last visit was back in April 1992, when an own goal saw them record a 1-0 victory. Indeed, this weekend’s success extended Killie’s unbeaten run against the Gable Endies to 14 matches in all competitions, with their last defeat coming back in December 1985.
2 – St Mirren defeated Cowdenbeath 2-0 at Central Park to keep themselves in contention in Premier Sports Group E. Summer signing Jonah Ayunga scored both goals as Stephen Robinson’s side bounced back from an opening day defeat to Arbroath. “Automatic for the People” by REM was the UK’s number one album the last time these sides met in a competitive fixture – that was back in May 1993, when the Blue Brazil won 2-1 at Love Street in Division 1.
3 – Dundee continued their perfect start under Gary Bowyer with a 3-0 victory over Stranraer at Stair Park. Cammy Kerr, Paul McGowan and Luke McCowan scored the goals as the Dees made it two wins out of two in Premier Sports Cup Group H. This is the first time Dundee have won back-to-back matches by a margin of three or more goals since 2009, when they beat Stranraer 5-0 on the final day of the 2008/09 season before opening 2009/10 with a 4-0 victory over Partick Thistle in the League Cup. You have to go all the way back to 1987 to find the last time they did so within the same season – on that occasion they defeated Falkirk 6-0 and Morton 7-1 in the Premier Division.
3 – Alloa Athletic defeated Buckie Thistle 4-1 at Victoria Park to keep up their hopes of qualifying from Premier Sports Cup Group C. The sides were facing each other competitively for the first time since January 1924, when the Wasps won a Scottish Cup tie after a replay. On Saturday, Brian Rice’s side fell behind early on, but three goals from Conor Sammon and one from Bradley Rodden ensured an emphatic victory which leaves them on five points from their first two matches. It was Sammon’s first hat-trick in almost 12 years – his last one also came in this competition, when he scored a treble in Kilmarnock’s 6-2 win over Airdrieonians in August 2010.
1 – Annan Athletic continued their impressive start to the season with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Elgin City at Galabank. Doubles from Aidan Smith and Tommy Goss moved Peter Murphy’s side three points clear at the top of Premier Sports Cup Group F. Annan have now recorded five consecutive victories against Elgin in all competitions, the best run either side has achieved in this fixture since Annan joined the SFL in 2008. The Galabankies now require just a point in their final fixture against Ayr United to win the group – if they make it through they would be the first League 2 side to reach Round 2 since the group stage was introduced in 2016/17.
