Dundee United have qualified for the last-16 of the Premier Sports Cup thanks to an almighty favour from gutsy Highland League champions Buckie Thistle.
The Tangerines were put on the back foot in Group B following a miserable opening fixture against Falkirk, slipping to a 2-0 defeat courtesy of strikes by Dylan Tait and Ross MacIver.
A decent response saw United beat Stenhousemuir, Ayr United and Buckie Thistle, albeit only racking up a comparatively modest goal difference of +5.
That meant the Terrors would finish third if Falkirk defeated local rivals Stenhousemuir and the Honest Men saw off Buckie by a three-goal margin – outcomes that even Jim Goodwin conceded were likely.
The Bairns held up their end of the bargain on a dramatic Saturday of action, sweeping Stenny aside 4-0 at Falkirk Stadium to top the group with nine points and a +9 goal difference.
But Ayr could only claim a 3-2 victory over Buckie at Somerset Park, with the Jags at one point battling back from 2-0 down to draw level. As such, Scott Brown’s men finished a breathless section with nine points and a +4 goal difference.
Further results went United’s way
With only the best three runners-up qualifying, second spot was no guarantee of progression. But results involving Alloa, Clyde and Raith Rovers also went United’s way.
Airdrie, United and Queen’s Park were the second-placed teams to progress, with Livi exiting despite claiming nine points.
The Tangerines will be unseeded for the last-16 draw but Goodwin won’t care a jot, given how large a second successive group stage exit had loomed.
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