Hibernian suffered a shocking defeat in the Scottish League Cup Group C as they were beaten by League 1 side Kelty Hearts. Callum Flatman’s header in the 58th minute was enough to secure the victory for Kelty. This loss marked Hibs head coach David Gray’s first defeat, although they still remain at the top of their group.
On the other hand, Aberdeen continued their winning streak under new head coach Jimmy Thelin with a convincing 4-0 victory over East Kilbride. They scored two goals in the first half through Nicky Devlin and Jamie McGrath, and Leighton Clarkson and Shayden Morris added two more in the second half to secure the win.
Several other Premiership teams also enjoyed victories in their respective matches. Dundee United defeated Ayr United, Motherwell emerged victorious against Clyde, Ross County triumphed over Raith Rovers, and St Johnstone secured a win against Morton.
In Group A, Aberdeen’s first-half goals by Devlin and McGrath put them in control of the match against K Park. In the second half, Clarkson’s free-kick and Morris’ effort sealed the victory for Aberdeen.
In Group B, Dundee United had to work hard to defeat Ayr United, with the match being decided by a brilliant free-kick from Brandon Forbes. Falkirk also had a successful outing, with Aidan Nesbitt, Sean Mackie, and Ryan Shanley all finding the back of the net.
Kelty Hearts made a strong statement with their victory over Hibernian in Group C. Former Hearts player Callum Flatman scored the only goal of the match, nodding in Scott Allan’s delivery. Ben Armour put Peterhead in front against Elgin City, but the visitors turned the game around with a strike from Jack Murray and a penalty from Dajon Golding. However, Caleb Goldie restored parity for Peterhead before Jason Brown’s double secured a 4-2 win.
In Group D, Annan Athletic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle both secured 3-0 victories. Tommy Goss, Josh Dixon, and Josh Todd were the goal-scorers for Annan, while Adam Brooks, Keith Bray, and Luis Longstaff found the back of the net for Inverness.
Livingston emerged victorious in Group E with a solitary goal from Robbie Muirhead. Forfar Athletic and Cove Rangers were tied 1-1 after regular time, but Forfar prevailed in the penalty shootout. They now sit at the top of the group alongside Livingston.
St Johnstone claimed a comfortable 2-0 win against Morton in Group F, thanks to two goals from Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka. Alloa Athletic had a successful outing as well, defeating Brechin City 3-1.
In Group G, Motherwell secured a 3-1 victory over Clyde, with goals from Moses Ebiye, Lennon Miller (penalty), and Filip Stuparevic. Partick Thistle had an impressive 6-0 win against Edinburgh City, with Scott Robinson, Brian Graham, Harry Milne, Ricco Diack, Wasiri Williams, and Kyle Turner all getting on the scoresheet.
Finally, in Group H, Ross County claimed a narrow 2-1 victory over Raith Rovers, with Jordan White and George Harmon scoring for County. Hamilton Academical defeated Stranraer 3-0, with goals from Steven Bradley, Kyle MacDonald, and Euan Henderson.
Overall, the Scottish League Cup matches provided exciting action and surprising results. While Hibernian suffered a shock defeat, Aberdeen and several other Premiership teams continued their winning streaks. The competition is heating up as teams battle for a spot in the knockout stages.