The curtain came down on the 2022/23 with Saints beaten 3-0 by Rangers at The SMiSA Stadium.
It had an end of season feel to it with both sides making changes to their starting eleven. Stephen Robinson handed first starts to Caolan Boyd-Munce and Lewis Jamieson, while Peter Urminsky made his first league start. Declan Gallagher also came into the side in place of Marcus Fraser.
Fraser would be subbed on with just eight minutes played to replace Ryan Strain went down with an injury and had to be taken off.
Curtis Main had the Buddies' first opportunity on 16 minutes after he drove forward, but he lashed his effort from distance well over the bar. Rangers opened the scoring 10 minutes later when Fashion Sakala squeezed home from close-range. The Rangers forward ghosted in beyond Fraser to collect a through ball from Ridvan Yilmaz before weaving his way past two Saints defenders. He struck towards the far corner and it only just squirmed through the legs of Scott Tanser before rolling into the net.
Saints reacted well though with Mark O'Hara's powerful header being held by Robby McCrorie on 29 minutes. Main was inches away from connecting with a low Jamieson cross just a few minutes later, but caught McCrorie late and was shown the first booking of the match.
Jamieson had a decent opportunity not long after the break when Keanu Baccus' quick thinking saw him prod the ball through to the St Mirren Youth Academy graduate after the referee didn't give a foul for a challenge on Main. Jamieson cut in on his left foot but fired wide from 20 yards. And Rangers doubled their lead less than a minute later when Sakala picked up the ball deep in the Saints half and drove forward. He cut through the Saints defence and shot from 20 yards with the effort squirming underneath Urminsky to make it 2-0.
The manager made a double change on the hour mark with Greg Kiltie and Kieran Offord introduced to the fray in place of Boyd-Munce and Jamieson. The substitutes combined within two minutes when Kiltie's low ball into the box picked out Offord. The forward took one too many touches though which allowed Rangers to snuff out the danger. Kiltie was involved again moments later when his dangerous corner wasn't dealt with by McCrorie who flapped at the ball. Richard Taylor was in at the back post but sliced his effort sending it wide.
The visitors added a third with 12 minutes left with substitute Antonio Colak heading home from close range to finish the scoring.
A disappointing result on the final day, but it won't overshadow what has been a good season for the Buddies. The players walked round the park following the final whistle to applaud supporters and mark our strongest top-flight finish since 1985.
Full-Time: St Mirren 0-3 Rangers
St Mirren: Urminsky, Shaughnessy (c), Gallagher, R.Taylor (Dunne 73), Strain (Fraser 8, Tait 73), Baccus, O'Hara, Boyd-Munce (Kiltie 60), Tanser, Jamieson (Offord 60), Main
Subs Not Used: Carson, Kenny, Gogic, F.Taylor,
Rangers: McCrorie, Tavernier (Devine 69), Souttar, Lundstram, Ridvan (Barisic 69), Jack, Cantwell, Raskin, Hagi (Arfield 69), Matondo (King 79), Sakala (Colak 69)
Subs Not Used: McGregor, Rice, King, Lowry, Wright
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Michael Banks
Fourth Official: Duncan Williams
VAR: Andrew Dallas
Assistant VAR: David Dunne
Attendance: 7,490
