St Mirren will face Hearts in the Round of 16 in the Premier Sports Cup after a 2-1 win over Ayr United saw Stephen Robinson's men top Group D.
A first-half double from Killian Phillips saw the Buddies defeat the Honest Men at The SMiSA Stadium to progress to the next round.
The Irishman put Saints ahead on 16 minutes as his low shot squirmed through the arms of David Mitchell and found the net despite the best efforts of Nick McAllister to try and keep it out. It was the culmination of a good move with Roland Idowu teeing up his fellow countryman to give us the lead.
Clear cut chances were at a premium with Fraser Taylor volleying over from 25 yards and ex-Saint Curtis Main attempting to beat debutant Shamal George from the half-way the best of opportunities after the goal.
The Buddies would add a second with seven minutes of the first-half remaining. Idowu's persistence and tenacity down the left-hand side saw the forward pick out Phillips whose tidy first time finish gave Stephen Robinson's men a deserved two-goal lead heading into the break.
Saints should have made it three on the hour mark when O'Hara won the ball deep in his half and the Buddies charged forward on a quick counter. Idowu rolled the ball into the path of Mikael Mandron who looked poised to put the game beyond doubt, but the striker fired wide of the near post.
Frustratingly, Saints would go from having a glorious opportunity to all but seal the victory to seeing the deficit reduced just four minutes later. Kevin Holt peeled away from his marker and ghosted in at the back post to meet a deep corner. His powerful header beat George and Alex Gogic was unable to keep it from crossing the line. That came just a minute after a warning shot from the Honest Men when substitute Dominic Thomas curled just wide of the far post.
The manager made a triple change as he introduced Oisin Smyth, Conor McMenamin and Jonah Ayunga in place of Taylor, Idowu and Mandron. With less than 10 minutes remaining, Alex Iacovitti was our fourth and final substitution as he replaced Richard King with Saints looking to see out the win.
With Ayr putting pressure on in search of an equaliser, captain Mark O'Hara could have wrapped up the victory as we headed into injury-time, but the skipper dragged his shot wide. In the end it would prove immaterial as Saints saw out win to secure top spot and progression to the last 16 where we will face Hearts on the weekend of 16/17th August.
Full-Time: St Mirren 2-1 Ayr United
St Mirren: George, Fraser, Gogic, King (Iacovitti 81), Richardson, Phillips, Taylor (Smyth 66), O'Hara (c), John, Idowu (McMenamin 66), Mandron (Ayunga 66)
Subs Not Used: Mullen, Freckleton, Sobowale, Calvin, Mooney
Ayr United: Mitchell, McAllister, Dick, Want (Oakley 46), Holt, McMann, McKenzie, Walker (Ure 89), Rus (Bonnar 46), Murphy (c) (Thomas 60), Main
Subs Not Used: Russell, Hastie, Watret
Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Jonathan Bell
Assistant Referee: Steven Traynor
Attendance: 4,174
