ROSS County prised St Johnstone's grip from the Challenge Cup with a 2-1 win at Victoria Park. David Winters fired County ahead at the start of the second half when he reacted quickly to bundle the ball home after Sean Higgins' cross had been knocked back across goal by Richie Hart.
Higgins made sure of County's progress to the next round when he raced on to a long ball from defence before firing past Euan McLean. Collin Samuel netted a late consolation for St Johnstone.
Second Division Alloa Athletic stunned Dundee with a 2-
1 win at Recreation Park. Chris Townsley broke the deadlock just before the hour mark when he nodded the ball home from close range and Jamie Stevenson doubled the advantage from a John Grant cross. Mickael Antoine-Curier scored a consolation goal for Dundee.
Partick Thistle beat Glasgow rivals Queen's Park 2-1 thanks to early strikes from Damon Gray and Mark Roberts. New signing Jack Henry got Queens back in the game after 17 minutes when he reacted quickly to knock home the rebound after Richie Sinclair's low volley came back off the foot off the post. Sinclair was later red-carded for a rash challenge on Ian Maxwell.
Chris Templeman struck the only goal of the game midway through the second half as East Fife beat Brechin City 1-0 at Glebe Park. He reacted to knock home the rebound after Brechin goalkeeper Craig Nelson could only parry a 30-yard effort from Kevin Fotheringham.
A pair of second-half penalties helped Forfar come from behind to beat Arbroath 2-1 at Gayfield. Bryan Scott fired the Red Lichties in front a minute before the interval but Sean Kilgannan levelled from the spot for Forfar. Kevin McLeish netted the winner from the spot.
League newcomers Annan Athletic held Clyde for an hour at Broadwood but the first division side came through 2-0. Alan Trouten opened the scoring from the penalty spot after he had been brought down by Alan Inglis after 61 minutes and Trouten added the second with a composed finish.
Queen of the South showed no signs of any European distractions as they defeated Berwick Rangers 5-1 at Shielfield. Sean O'Connor put them ahead in the 12th minute and Stephen Dobbie crossed for Stewart Kean to head home after 31 minutes after a mistake by central defender Andy McLean.
Ian Little pulled a goal back early in the second half with a shot from the edge of the box but O'Connor added his second with a header from a Kean cross. Kean scored his second with a simple tap-in before Craig Barr headed number five.
Airdrie United came back from 2-0 down to edge out Dumbarton 3-2. Goals from Ross Clark and Derek Carcary put Dumbarton in a strong position at half-time but Airdrie hit back in the second half. Stuart Noble pulled a goal back with a long-range effort before Joe Cardle equalised after 58 minutes. Cardle then fed Paul Di Giacomo who fired the ball in off the post for the winning goal with 15 minutes left.
Dunfermline Athletic eased to a 3-0 win over Stirling Albion after Alex Burke gave them the perfect start with a fourth-minute goal when he side-footed in a Calum Woods' cross. Nicky Phinn headed the second from a Kevin Harper cross in 61 minutes before Iain Williamson completed the scoring.
Peterhead began their season in ruthless fashion with a 6-0 demolition of Montrose. The Blue Toon took the lead after 25 minutes through Martin Bavidge before Montrose's Stuart Cumming headed through his own net to double Peterhead's lead before half-time. Peterhead's new signing Craig Gunn then scored three times in 16 dazzling minutes before Bavidge completed the rout with his second goal of the game in the 78th minute.
Livingston swept aside Stranraer 4-0, with Leigh Griffiths giving them a half-time lead before Joe Hammill scored the second with a fine half-volley. Ex-Celtic winger Anthony McParland added a third for Livingston before Griffiths notched his second and Livi's fourth.
Stranraer's misery was complete when Kevin Nicoll was ordered off in the 81st minute for a professional foul.
Cowdenbeath secured a comfortable 2-0 win at Boroughbriggs against Elgin City after Darren McGregor gave them an early lead. The Blue Brazil made sure of a place in the second round when Paul McQuade converted from close range.
Albion Rovers snatched a late winner against Stenhousemuir at Ochilview to claim a 1-0 win, Ciaran Donnelly netting from the penalty spot in the 87th minute.
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