Saturday 30 July 2016 20:09, UK
Partick Thistle, Peterhead, St Johnstone and Motherwell are among the sides safely through to the second round of the Betfred Cup after a very busy day of action in Scotland.
But Dundee and Kilmarnock became the latest top-flight sides who failed to make it out of their groups.
The group stages conclude this weekend and three teams hit seven goals on Saturday, while Peterhead topped Group A after an exciting victory over Dumbarton.
The match finished 3-3 and Nicky Riley eventually tucked away the winning penalty, as the Blue Toon won the spot-kick 6-5, having twice failed to convert potentially match-winning penalties.
Dundee hammered Forfar 7-0 in the same group at Dens Park but it was not enough to take Paul Hartley's side through to the next round.
Paul McGowan put them on their way before Michael Duffy, Greg Stewart (2), Julen Etxabeguren, substitute Rory Loy and Yordi Teijsse got in on the act.
However, Dundee's seven-point tally was not enough to qualify as they could only finish third in Group A.
And there was also disappointment for Kilmarnock, who failed to advance after they drew 0-0 at home with Albion Rovers and then lost 5-3 on spot-kicks.
Partick Thistle comfortably progressed to the last 16 with a 100 per cent record after disposing of Queen's Park 2-0 in the local derby.
Chris Erskine put the hosts in front after just seven minutes and then set up Liam Lindsay for an 80th-minute second.
Aiden Malone went close for the visitors early on but his header went just wide and Erskine then got on the end of a long pass forward and found the target with a looping header.
Partick sub Ade Azeez hit the bar in the second half before Lindsay wrapped up the win when he nodded home from an Erskine corner.
Inverness have qualified comfortably from Group C and they romped to a 7-0 victory over Arbroath, Scott Boden scoring a hat-trick.
Carl Tremarco grabbed a brace and Iain Vigurs and Billy King were also on target, as Inverness produced an impressive display.
Hamilton are also through, Louis Long having scored a fine goal to secure a 2-1 win over Livingston at the SuperSeal Stadium.
Home striker Alex D'Acol netted in the first-half of a hard-fought tie but Sean Crighton levelled for Livingston.
However, after 55 minutes, Ali Crawford picked out Longridge, who found the bottom corner of the net with a fine strike.
That settled the match and sent Martin Canning's men through, having topped Group G on goal difference ahead of Ayr and St Mirren, who were 3-0 winners at home to Edinburgh City.
The Buddies needed just one more goal to move above Ayr and into second place but, after Lawrence Shankland, on-loan Rangers winger Tom Walsh, and Jack Baird scored before the break, they could not add to their tally in the second half.
St Johnstone cruised into the next phase after easily defeating League One part-timers Stirling Albion 4-0 to top Group B
Tommy Wright's side had the match all but wrapped up by half-time at McDiarmid Park, Steven Anderson, Steven MacLean and Liam Craig all finding the net before the break.
Substitute David Wotherspoon then added a late fourth to complete the victory.
Motherwell advance as one of the best second-place finishers after winning 3-0 at Stranraer to finish second behind Rangers in Group F.
Second-half goals from Chris Cadden, Marvin Johnson and Scott McDonald were enough to send the Premiership club into the next round.
Cadden opened the scoring with a fine strike five minutes into the second-half but Well had to wait until seven minutes from time to make sure of the win, Cadden cutting the ball back so that Johnson could double the advantage.
Johnson then turned provider two minutes later, McDonald heading his cross into the net.
Holders Ross County were already out but ended their disappointing campaign in style with a 7-o thrashing of Highland League champions Cove Rangers.
Alex Schalk scored the only goal of the first half at Global Energy Stadium, and he was also the victim of a reckless tackle from Mitch Megginson, who was shown a straight red card.
Ross County went on to knock in six goals in the second half, Brian Graham smashing in a hat-trick.
Celtic, Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs automatically go into the draw for the last 16 and they will be joined as seeds by group winners Alloa, Partick Thistle, Rangers and Morton.
Also through are the other confirmed group winners (Peterhead, St Johnstone, Hamilton) and three of the best runners-up are known (Motherwell, Queen of the South, Ayr United).
Inverness will top Group C, so long as Dundee United do not better the 7-0 result Caley Thistle managed against Arbroath when they host Dunfermline on Sunday.
And Ray McKinnon's Terrors could also miss out completely, with the Pars set to advance if they prevail at Tannadice.
