McCusker at double as Clyde edge win over Cowdenbeath

THE Co-operative Insurance Cup's seeding process did not go exactly to plan on Saturday as two First Division sides were knocked out of at the first attempt by lower league opponents.

Cowdenbeath went down 2-1 at Third Division Clyde and Stirling Albion lost by the same scoreline to Second Division Forfar. To add to the unexpected outcomes Elgin also beat higher league opposition with Ayr United making the long trip home from Morayshire on the back of a 3-2 defeat.

At Broadwood, summer signing Marc McCusker struck two fine goals in the second half to put Clyde in the driving seat and the Cumbernauld side held on for a fine win despite Mark Ramsay pulling a headed goal back with 12 minutes left. Clyde head coach Stuart Millar said: "It was a strange game. We dominated the first 25 minutes and then Cowdenbeath dominated. We had a word with the players at half-time and I thought we were terrific again in the second half."

Ramsay's goal came during a late attacking charge that Cowdenbeath coach Jimmy Nicholl's old chum Jimmy Calderwood would have been proud of.

Forfar coach Dick Campbell had reason to smile at Forthbank as his sons, Iain and Ross, had his side two ahead early in the second half and they held off a Stirling Albion comeback that started with a Nathan Taggart goal.

Campbell said: "I thought we deserved the win and it is a pretty good way to open our season."

Elgin defeated Ayr United 3-2 at Borough Briggs with 6ft 8in RAF fireman Paul Millar netting the winner in the final minute of extra time.

The day had started brightly for Ayr with Steven McKeown firing them in front after 17 minutes, but things started turning against them when Jonathan Tiffoney was sent off on 38 minutes. Craig Gunn levelled from the spot just before half-time and he then put Ross Jack's side in front with little over 20 minutes remaining. Ayr substitute Aaron Connolly equalised to force extra time and penalties looked on the cards until Millar's late winner.

Ayr manager Brian Reid said: "We had seven players booked and a man sent off and there was hardly a tackle in the game. The game was ruined when we went down to ten men."

The only SPL side in the competition at this stage, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, had no such problems against Queen's Park sending the Hampden side back home to Glasgow on the back of a 3-0 defeat despite missing Richie Foran and Jonny Hayes through injury and losing Grant Munro and debutant Chris Innes to knocks during the game.

Lee Cox netted in the first half with Eric Odhiambo and Ross Tokely scoring in the second to leave manager Terry Butcher saying: "It was disappointing to pick up further injuries but there were was some exciting play for us as well."

There was little danger of a shock at Stranraer where Allan Moore's Morton clicked into gear with summer signing Stewart Kean grabbing a hat-trick and Peter Weatherson a double as the Greenock men romped home 7-1. Fellow new recruits Graeme Holmes and Kevin Kelbie also netted as Moore came closing to equalling the eight-goal tally the Stirling side he managed scored on his last trip to Stair Park in January 2009. Moore said: "I am delighted, especially as we had been struggling to score. Stranraer made it really difficult for 25 minutes and then we took over."

Montrose manager Steven Tweed's return to Dens Park pitch he graced as player was not a happy one as the big centre half required to be substituted after only 20 minutes through injury and his young side lost 3-0 to Dundee. Leigh Griffiths netted a second-half penalty either side of Nicky Reilly's two goals.

Andy Kirk scored twice as Dunfermline defeated Arbroath for the second week running, however unlike last week's 1-0 victory, the goals were flying in at East End Park as Dunfermline won 5-2. Arbroath took the lead when player/boss Paul Sheerin nodded in after 12 minutes only for Kirk to equalise almost straight away.

The scores remained tied until 17 minutes from time when youngster Paul Willis put Dunfermline back in front with Kirk and Steven McDougall quickly adding goals. Gavin Swankie pulled a goal back only for Joe Cardle to add a fifth for Jim McIntyre's men.

Ross County squeezed past Livingston 2-1 with Andy Barrowman heading home the winner just two minutes after team-mate Ian Vigurs had been dismissed midway through the second half. It was the Staggies first win in 14 years over Livingston. Raith Rovers won the Fife derby in style, defeating East Fife 4-1 with Gregory Tade scoring twice and new-boy John Baird having the Kirkcaldy men out of sight before half-time. East Fife's Bobby Linn grabbed a goal back, however on-loan Hearts striker Jamie Mole quickly re-established the three goal cushion.

Queen of the South brushed Second Division Dumbarton aside 5-1 with Derek Holmes' two early goals paving the way to victory. Holmes headed in and then sent home a penalty after a Ben Gordon handball before former Scotland player Allan Johnston grabbed his first goal for the Doonhamers. Derek Carcary pulled a goal back only for Rocco Quinn and Gavin Reilly to complete the scoring.

Partick Thistle came out on top in their first ever meeting with Annan Athletic, however it took a late Simon Donnelly goal for the Glasgow side to progress 1-0. Dennis Wyness also struck late to separate Peterhead and Berwick Rangers at Balmoor while Scott Gemmill grabbed the only goal of the Lanarkshire derby to ensure Airdrie defeated Albion Rovers.

Brechin City came from behind to win 3-1 at Stenhousemuir at Ochilview where summer signing Grant Anderson had given the Warriors an early lead. Gerry McLachlan and former Stenhousemuir player Craig Malloy scored before half-time before regular goal-grabber Rory McAllister sealed the win.