DEFENDER Alex Keddie was the unlikely hero for Ross County, scoring twice for the Dingwall side to set up their passage to the third round of the Alba Challenge Cup with a 2-1 at Raith Rovers.
But their victory was spoiled when substitute Dyron Daal appeared to suffer a bad injury.
Raith pulled a goal back with just over 15 minutes to go, but County held on to progress to the quarter-finals.
The first half was mainly a midfield scra
p but County secured their passage into the next round with a quickfire double at the start of the second half, Keddie netting in the 52nd and 54th minutes.
The former Stranraer man applied the finishing touch to end the scramble by putting the ball into the net for his first. Two minutes later Keddie rose to meet a corner and he planted a header past the despairing McGurn from ten yards out. Former Hearts striker Graham Weir shot home from the edge of the box for Raith.
Alloa had held First Division Clyde to a goalless draw at half-time in a performance that will have pleased manager Allan Maitland. But the Broadwood side responded by taking off Ricky Waddell and bringing on the more creative Alan Trouten for the second period before running out 2-0 winners.
The Wasps had their higher league opponents rattled and Pat Clarke put John Brown's men ahead in the 58th minute. Billy Gibson then added a second in 76 minutes.
Forfar manager Dick Campbell had been asking his players to concentrate more and he would have been pleased with most of the performance in the 1-0 defeat at Livingston. But Livi's dynamic young striker Leigh Griffiths netted from 15 yards out in the 51st minute.
Cowdenbeath substitute Brian Fairbairn broke Albion Rovers' hearts with a last-minute winner in the 3-2 win at Central Park after the Coatbridge side had battled back twice.
Stephen McKeown scored twice in extra-time to help Partick Thistle claim a hard-fought 4-2 win over Peterhead at Firhill.
East Fife manager Dave Baikie has three major doubts and one huge uncertainty to deal with as he prepares to face First Division Airdrie United tonight.
Baikie said: "Steven Tweed is doubtful with a hamstring problem as is Bobby Linn with Achilles trouble and Paul Walker with a thigh strain."
The uncertainty for Baikie is whether Kevin Fotheringham will be available with the player due to start an eight-game ban for allegedly racially abusing Stranraer's Gregory Tade. The Methil club were looking to advise the SFA of their plans for a judicial review into the case. However, the anticipated costs of such a move may mean that this will no longer go ahead and Fotheringham's ban will kick in immediately.
Airdrie player-coach Paul Lovering is available tonight with manager Kenny Black having a full squad to choose from.
East Stirling manager Jim McInally will blood new signing Paul Hay against his former club, Morton.
But Morton's Alex Walker is a doubt.
The full article contains 516 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
