Betfred Cup round-up

Partick Thistle, Celtic, Hibs & Livingston book their quarter final spots

Published 9th Aug 2017

Partick Thistle secured their place in the quarter finals of the Betfred Cup with a 3-0 victory at St Johnstone.

Steven Lawless opened the scoring from the penalty spot five minutes into the second half, with Ryan Edwards curling in a brilliant second just after the hour and Chris Erskine adding a third in the last minute.

Hibernian coasted to 5-0 win against Ayr United, with Anthony Stokes scoring twice.

The Irishman kick-started his third stint at Easter Road when he nodded home from a corner on 19 minutes before then setting up Simon Murray.

Stokes then bundled in a third just before the hour, with Efe Ambrose and Deivydas Matulevicius wrapping up a comprehensive triumph.

Celtic booked their place in the last eight with a 5-0 defeat of Kilmarnock at Parkhead.

Leigh Griffiths netted twice in the first half, opening the scoring from the penalty spot with 18-year-old defender Anthony Ralston - one of five teenagers in the starting line-up - also heading in his first goal for the club.

Kieran Tierney, captain for the night in the absence of suspended Scott Brown, fired in a wonderful fourth from 35 yards in the 65th minute with midfielder Stuart Armstrong completing the rout from close range on 71 minutes.

Livingston are also through after winning 2-1 at Championship rivals Falkirk after extra time with a goal from Rafa De Vita.

Scott Robinson had given the visitors the lead on the break in the 31st minute, but James Craigen soon levelled only for Italian De Vita to have the final say 11 minutes into extra-time