Betfred Cup /Djorkaeff nets Saints clincher as Pars and Arbroath hit six
St Mirren left it late to pick up their first Group H win with a last gasp penalty from Oan Djorkaeff earning a 1-0 win over Edinburgh City, writes Craig P Stewart.
The Paisley side went close on 13 minutes with an overhead kick from Cody Cooke which drifted wide.
The Citizens had a good opening 16 minutes later when Scott Shepherd teed up Alex Harris and his curling effort brought a good stop from Vaclav Hladky.
Saints’ Danny Mullen thought he had made the breakthrough with 20 minutes left but an offside flag cut short the hosts celebrations. Jim Goodwin’s side looked like they would face a massive task to get out of Group H but Paul Mcginn was brought down and Djorkaeff – son on French World Cup winner Youri – made no mistake.
Dunfermline top Group H after their summer recruit from rivals Raith, Kevin Nisbet, grabbed a hat-trick as they beat visitors Albion Rovers 6-0. The Pars took the lead after three minutes through Kyle Turner’s solo effort and Nisbet headed home his first on 19 minutes. Another Nisbet header made it 3-0 and it got even better for Dunfermline before half-time with Aaron Comrie scoring and Nisbet completing his treble.
Rovers goalkeeper Ryan Goodfellow was injured as he tried to save from Nisbet, and his replacement Chris Smith was beaten by Turner early in the second half.
Hamilton bounced back from their penalty-kick defeat by Queen’s Park on Saturday by winning 3-1 against Clyde at Ochilview in Group F.
Accies took the lead on 31 minutes when Scott Mccann fired home and they grabbed their second six minutes into the restart when Blair Alston netted from the edge of the box.
Kristoffer Syvertsen tapped in a Chris Johnston cut-back to get Clyde back into the game but Lewis Smith secured the three points when he ran on to a head-flick and scored.
In Group D, Cove Rangers secured a highly credible no-scoring draw with visitors Dundee but it was the Dens Parkers who left with the bonus point after a 3-2 penalty-kick success.
Cove almost stunned their visitors midway through the opening half when Martin Scott swivelled and sent in a drive which Jack Hamilton could only push away, although the goalkeeper did well to block Daniel Park’s follow up.
On 25 minutes Dundee’s Paul Mcgowan sent a header against the post with Park cracking Dundee’s bar with a lofted effort before halftime. Neither side created a major chance in the second 45 minutes with Paul Mcgowan’s penalty proving decisive in the shootout.
Arbroath hit the front after just 45 seconds at Stirling Albion, with David Gold sending a shot thundering into the net as the Gayfield side ran out 6-1 winners to top Group C.
A second goal arrived on 28 minutes when Michael Mckenna headed in but Stirling replied at the start of the second half with Dylan Mackin hitting home.
Gold soon restored Arbroath’s two-goal lead with Colin Hamilton shooting home before Greig Spence added a double.