Hibs through as three sides make it four from four in League Cup

Aberdeen, Dundee and Ross County completed their Scottish League Cup first-round groups with 100% records and were joined in the second round by Hibernian, St Johnstone, Falkirk and Spartans.

Dundee United, Airdrieonians and Queen’s Park will join the so far seven confirmed group winners in round two as the three best runners-up.

Aberdeen made it four wins out of four with six goals without reply at home to Dumbarton while Dundee humbled visitors Inverness Caledonian Thistle 6-0. County also won at home, 3-0 against Stirling Albion.

Hibs, Saints, Falkirk and Spartans finished with three wins, the former routing Peterhead 4-0 while the Perth side defeated East Fife 5-1.

Falkirk beat near neighbours Stenhousemuir 4-0 to finish ahead of United on goal difference in Group B. The Tangerines themselves only finished above Ayr United on goal difference, but did have the better head-to-head record.

Spartans’ 1-0 win at Livingston took them above David Martindale’s side on goals scored and Livi miss out on the next round to United, Airdrie and Queen’s Park, who all have a better goal difference.

Group G will be completed on Sunday when leaders Motherwell face third-placed Partick Thistle (15:00).

Scotland’s European representatives, Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Mirren, are seeded sides in Sunday’s last-16 draw, along with Aberdeen, Dundee and County. Rangers are cup holders after beating Aberdeen in last season’s final.

All six of Aberdeen’s goals came in the second half with Jack MacKenzie’s opener followed by Ester Sokler’s double and late efforts from Peter Ambrose, James McGarry and Slobodan Rubezic.

Airdrie completed a strong group campaign with Ben Wilson netting in the first half and Terrell Agyemang in the second.

The conclusion to Group B was a nervous one for Dundee United in absentia. The Tangerines had played all four of their fixtures and started Saturday top. Falkirk’s 4-0 win, with Callumn Morrison scoring a penalty, Ross MacIver netting twice and Liam Henderson heading a fourth, took John McGlynn’s side to the summit.

Ayr United led Buckie Thistle 2-0 and were on course to join Falkirk in the next round but the visitors levelled through Josh Peters and John McLeod in the second half after Jay Henderson’s first-half double. Jake Hastie netted Ayr’s winner but it was not enough to progress.

Hibs’ group campaign had been derailed somewhat by last week’s 1-0 loss at Kelty Hearts. Lewis Miller scored either side of half-time and Rudi Molotnikov and Nathan Moriah-Welsh made the game safe.

Dom Thomas missed an early penalty for Queen’s Park but atoned for that with the Spiders’ opener. Sean Welsh headed their second and doubles from Roddy MacGregor and Jack Turner followed.

Simon Murray scored a first-half hat-trick in Dundee’s big win with Seb Palmer-Houlden also netting twice before break. Antonio Portales added a late sixth.

A late and solitary Gavin Reilly strike gave Arbroath victory at Bonnyrigg Rose.

Livingston were heading for the last 16 until Cammy Russell struck for Spartans in the 85th minute.

Michael Doyle and Myles Gaffney put Cove Rangers two up at Dunfermline Athletic, with Taylor Sutherland scoring a late consolation.

Adama Sidibeh and Benjamin Kimpioka each scored twice for St Johnstone and MacKenzie Kirk was also on target. Alan Trouten scored for East Fife.

Owen Moffat and Michael Garrity put Morton two up against Alloa Athletic in Greenock, Conor Sammon getting a consolation for the visitors.

Craig Brown’s header for Montrose away to Clyde was the only goal of the day in Group G.

Ronan Hale’s first-half double put Ross County in command against Stirling Albion and James Brown made it three late on.

Raith Rovers and Hamilton Academical were the only sides to draw after 90 minutes on Saturday. Sean McGinty put Hamilton in front and Lee Kilday’s own goal levelled matters before Raith secured the bonus point with a 5-3 penalty shootout win.