Ayr in impressive form

Ayr continued their excellent start to the Betfred Cup group stage at Dumbarton. A 3-1 win kept them top of Group E following their opening derby win over Kilmarnock.

Lowland League champions East Kilbride pulled off a shock in Group G with a 4-1 penalties triumph over Queen of the South following a goalless draw at Palmerston.

Livingston had a 1-0 victory at Championship St Mirren.

Elsewhere in Group H, Airdrie shrugged off uncertainty off the pitch following head coach Mark Wilson’s departure with a 3-1 win over nine-man Stranraer. Teenage debutant Cammy Russell scored twice and Andy Ryan picked himself up to convert a penalty after being elbowed by visiting goalkeeper Cameron Belford, who was sent off. David Barron followed in the closing stages.

Morton were two goals down to Queen’s Park with five minutes left after Bryan Wharton’s header and a Thomas Orr strike had put the amateurs in the driving seat in the final 20 minutes. But Bob McHugh netted and Darren Barr struck deep into injury-time to seal a 2-2 draw, and Jim Duffy’s side completed a comeback to win 4-2 on spot-kicks. Edinburgh City also won on penalties in Group F after Ashley Grimes hit a debut double in a 2-2 draw with Berwick.

Stirling and Inverness played out a stalemate before the hosts also failed to net during penalties, a 2-0 shoot-out win earning Caley Thistle a bonus point.

There was a bonus-point win for Stenhousemuir against Albion Rovers in Group G.