Saints finished the decade just as they'd started it – with a 1-0 home win over Kilmarnock.
This time round it was Ilkay Durmus rather than Chris Innes who got the winner, the winger sending a sweet first half shot past Laurentiu Branescu after a brilliant pass from Tony Andreu.
In truth the winning margin should have been greater as only a tremendous save from the Killie goalie stopped Andreu getting a second after the break with Cammy MacPherson, Junior Morias and Jon Obika also going close.
Andreu was back in Jim Goodwin's team at the expense of Calum Waters, who wasn't allowed out to play against his parent club. His absence meant Sam Foley moved into the centre of defence with Paul McGinn going to leftback.
Saints had an early shout for a penalty turned down after a Killie player's arm appeared to get in the way of Sean McLoughlin's effort from a corner. Liam Millar was inches away from connecting with Nicholas Hamalainen's fine ball across the Saints goal before Vaclav Hladky was tested for the first time, palming away a fierce shot from Brophy.
Durmus was enjoying lots of space on the Saints left and, moments after he saw Jon Obika head over from his cross, he put Saints in front in fine style. Andreu slipped a brilliant pass through to the winger and he strode onto the ball and drilled it first time into the bottom corner. It was a deserved lead and the hosts sensed the chance to extend it as Andreu sclaffed a shot wide, a camera man at the back of the family stand then having to take evasive action as Brophy tried to draw Killie level.
Andreu nearly claimed a second assist as he gathered in the ball then released Obika, the big striker narrowly failing to find the top corner from the edge of the box. Kyle Magennis was slightly closer to finding the same corner when he had a go from miles out, his dipping shot skimming the roof of the net.
A Chris Burke free-kick early in the second half caused a bit of uncertainty in the makeshift Saints defence, Hladky eventually saving as Brophy and sub Osman Sow tried to force it in. The Buddies won a free-kick of their own when Gary Dicker was booked for fouling Durmus, Branescu doing well to hold on to MacPherson's hit. Sow had the ball in the net at the other end after getting onto the end of Millar's pass but the whistle had long gone for offside.
As Killie appealed in vain for a penalty for a possible handball by MacPherson, Saints raced forward and almost grabbed their second. Morias picked up the ball out wide and cut inside, only to be tackled just as he got ready to shoot, the loose ball falling to Durmus who sent a spectacular shot just over the bar. The former Turkish youth international turned provider next time around, picking out the unmarked Andreu whose header was superbly turned away by Branescu. The resultant corner was cleared out to Durmus at the edge of the box and his volley flew just wide.
Another great chance came as Saints broke on the counter, Obika releasing the ball as both MacPherson and Durmus charged through the middle. The pair pretty much ran into each other before the former took possession, however his shot was blocked by Iain Wilson. Branescu saved from Morias as the Buddies continued to push, Alex Bruce and Kyle Magennis both going into the book after a bit of handbags that saw the majority of the players rushing to get involved.
Hladky did well to punch away Sow's hooked effort at a corner as the Killie fans behind the goal claimed for a foul for some penalty box shenanigans. As the Buddies looked for a second, Morias shot wide before Obika twice went close, seeing one shot saved by Branescu and another hit the side netting. There is always a worry that when you're on top and can't convert your chances you'll be made to pay for it but that rarely looked like being the case on this occasion as the Buddies rounded off the 2010s with a well deserved three points.
Full-Time: St Mirren 1-0 Kilmarnock
St Mirren: Hladky, Flynn, Foley, McLoughlin, P.McGinn, Durmus, MacPherson, Magennis (c), Andreu (Cooke ), Morias, Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Erhahon, McMaster, Djorkaeff, Jamieson, Mullen
Kilmarnock: Branescu, Millen (El Makrini 76), Bruce, Del Fabro, Hamalainen, Dicker, Wilson, McKenzie (Sow 40), Millar, Burke (Thomas 65), Brophy
Subs Not Used: Koprivec, Johnson, Barlow, Jackson
Referee: Alan Newlands
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Paul O'Neill
Fourth Official: Gavin Duncan
Attendance: 6,363
Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography
