St Mirren kicked off their preparations for the new season with a dominant victory away to Dumbarton.
James Scott's late goal, as well as Roland Idowu's second-half double, added to a first-half header from Mikael Mandron to give Saints a 4-0 win away to the League Two side.
Stephen Robinson played two teams in each half with only goalkeeper Peter Urminsky playing in both halves. The manager started new signings Jayden Richardson and Liam Donnelly, who was listed as a trialist as we await SFA clearance, while St Mirren Youth Academy players Billy Hutchison, Fraser Taylor and Evan Mooney were also given starts.
The Buddies controlled throughout the 90 minutes but it would take until 37 minutes before the deadlock was broken when Mandron headed home from close range. However, Saints had numerous chances to take the lead before that goal would arrive. Last season's player of the year, Killian Phillips, was the first to come close after a lovely bit of play from the Buddies on 12 minutes. Richardson won the ball deep in the Dumbarton half which allowed Mooney to run on to the ball before feeding to Mandron on the edge of the area. The forward found Taylor who teed it off for Phillips. The Irish international took it first time, but side-footed just over the bar.
Mooney passed up a big chance two minutes later when Mandron's low cross from the left found the striker. The 17-year-old didn't quite get the connection he'd have hoped for and the effort clipped the top bar.
Mandron almost scored three minutes before he would open the scoring. The striker headed Taylor's free-kick over from close range, but atoned for the miss when he nodded Phillips' cross in from point blank range to give us a lead heading into the interval.
Mikael Mandron opens the scoring (Image: Paul Byars)
An entire change of outfield came at the break with Youth Academy graduates Callum Penman and Thomas Falconer among those introduced. The latter almost got himself on the scoresheet within the first minute of the restart, seeing a shot blocked after doing well to work his way into the box.
Saints would add a second on 51 minutes through Idowu and he's not likely to score an easier goal. Captain Mark O'Hara sent Scott clear on goal and the forward, who could have taken it himself, unselfishly found Idowu alongside him and he knocked into the empty net. The Irishman's second, and our third, seven minutes later was more emphatic. He raced on to a pass from Oisin Smyth and lashed high into the net from inside the area.
Roland Idowu netted a second-half brace (Image: Allan Picken)
Confidence high from his brace, the forward impressed the travelling support with his trickery and almost notched an assist when his work down the left saw him cut the ball back for Jonah Ayunga who just couldn't force home.
Heading into the final 10 minutes, Scott saw a powerful strike well saved by ex-Saints Youth Academy goalkeeper Shay Kelly as he pushed the shot over. Falconer then had an effort blocked as the Buddies searched for a fourth. It was Falconer and Scott who would combine for the fourth and final goal. Falconer's cross with the outside of his foot was nodded home by Scott on 86 minutes as Saints got their pre-season up and running with a dominant win.
James Scott rounds off the scoring against Dumbarton (Image: Allan Picken)
Full-Time: Dumbarton 0-4 St Mirren
First-Half - St Mirren: Urminsky, Fraser (c), Hutchison, Iacovitti, Richardson, Phillips, Donnelly (T), Taylor, John, Mandron, Mooney
Second-Half - St Mirren: Urminsky, Kenny, Gogic, Tanser, Penman, Smyth, O'Hara (c), Falconer, Scott, Idowu, Ayunga
Attendance: 1,357
Stephen Robinson applauds travelling support (Image: Paul Byars)
