Peterhead have been eliminated from the Betfred Cup following a 3-1 defeat to Raith Rovers.
The loss at Stark’s Park, courtesy of goals from Kieron Bowie, Michael Miller and Lewis Allan, coupled with Caley Thistle’s win over Cove Rangers, prevents the Blue Toon from progressing.
Ben Armour did grab a late consolation for the Blue Toon but there was too little time to prompt a comeback.
They sit in third place with six points having completed their four games, with the Caley Jags and Dundee both a point better off ahead of their meeting on Sunday.
Rory McAllister (hamstring), Simon Ferry and Gary Fraser dropped out of the side that drew with Dundee, with Willie Gibson, Mick Dunlop and Aidan Smith coming in.
It took just four minutes for the home side to go in front, when Ross Matthews nicked the ball off Jack Leitch and squared to the back post, where Bowie was able to slide in.
A block by a prone Dunlop prevented Matthews getting a shot away at goal 10 minutes later, with Brad Spencer lashing the rebound over.
Bowie turned provider for the second with 22 minutes on the clock, switching the play to full-back Miller on the right who beat Greg Fleming with a great strike into the top corner.
The visitors’ only chance of the opening period came two minutes before the interval, with Leitch sending a half-volley wide of Ross Munro’s goal.
Peterhead started the second half with a renewed vigour and Gibson’s corner in the box caused some problems, before Kyle Benedictus was eventually able to smuggle clear in front of Smith.
Fleming was perhaps fortunate to only see yellow when he raced out of his box and cleaned out Grant Anderson, with referee Chris Fordyce only affording him a yellow card. The Blue Toon bench breathed a sigh of relief, with no substitute goalkeeper named.
Allan capped off the perfect evening for the home side, turning in at the back post put the tie out of reach of the visitors. Armour found the net with two minutes to go after an error from Fernandy Mendy but it was not enough to extend Peterhead’s interest in the competition.
