St Mirren claimed their third penalty shoot-out victory of the season as the Buddies defeated Livingston to progress to the Fifth Round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup.
Neither side could be separated following 120 minutes after Roland Idowu's early goal was cancelled out by a Scott Arfield equaliser.
Malik Dijksteel scored the winning spot-kick for Stephen Robinson's men after Evan Mooney, Marcus Fraser and Liam Donnelly had stuck away their penalties to see us into the hat for the next round.
The Buddies were quick out the blocks and could have taken the lead just 20 seconds into the match with Killian Phillips seeing a shot blocked inside the Livingston box.
Saints' bright start was rewarded with only three minutes on the clock. Phillips fed the ball through to Jayden Richardson who'd broken through the Livi backline to reach the inch perfect pass from the Irishman. Richardson - the only change from Wednesday night's defeat to Hearts as he replaced the injured Conor McMenamin - sent a low cross into the box where it found an unmarked Idowu at the far post and he fired the Buddies ahead.
Roland Idowu celebrates opening goal (Image: Allan Picken)
Frustratingly, Livingston would draw themselves level just eight minutes later through Scott Arfield. Josh Brenet let the ball run through for the veteran midfielder who managed to get in ahead of Miguel Freckleton to poke beyond Shamal George.
It was end-to-end stuff in the opening period. Richard King lashed over from a tight angle on 14 minutes, while Declan John sent an effort just wide of target after receiving Idowu's cut-back nine minutes after.
Livingston's Lewis Smith dragged a strike by the post on 27 minutes before Oisin Smyth volleyed Richardson's cross wide on 36 minutes. It was a big chance for the Northern Irishman who found himself in space and connected well with it, but he couldn't guide it on target.
Saints started the second-half with intent as Phillips sent a teasing low ball across the face of the Livingston goal on 48 minutes. Unfortunately there were no takers for the Buddies. Mo Susoho sent an effort wide of target as the game ticking into the hour mark. 60 minutes brought the first change of the match of the match with Saints introducing Dan Nlundulu in place of Smyth.
Livingston created half chances, but none that caused any real danger for George who gathered a header from Robbie Muirhead and save a long-distance shot from Connor McLennan.
It was end-to-end stuff as we heading into the final 20 minutes of normal time. Mikael Mandron's low pass on 72 minutes just missed Nlundulu in the box, but found Richardson ghosting in at the back post. He, however, sent the strike off target.
George was called into action four minutes later when Livi substitute Stevie May had managed to get himself in behind the Saints defence. The goalkeeper was off his line quickly and made a huge stop to deny Livingston the lead. Moments later, following the resulting corner, Muirhead sent a powerful strike from 25 yards inches over the bar. Two minutes after, it was the Buddies' turn. Nlundulu looked primed to put us in front when he was picked out by Mandron, but a wonderful save from Jerome Prior kept the effort out from point blank range.
As the game ticked towards the end of normal time, it was clear that 90 minutes wasn't going to separate either side and so it proved to be as we headed to extra-time. Both teams had opportunities with Nlundulu seeing a shot blocked inside the area after good work from Mooney, who replaced Idowu on 104 minutes. George made a brilliant save at full-stretch to tip a Jeremy Bokila header over the bar.
Extra-time wasn't enough to find a winner and the game had to be decided on spot-kicks. Livingston went first, but saw Bokila blaze the first attempt over the bar. Evan Mooney gave Saints the advantage with an emphatic finish. Both captains were up next with Ryan McGowan scoring for Livingston and Marcus Fraser doing likewise for Saints. Susoho scored for the hosts to bring it back to 2-2 before substitute Liam Donnelly's effort squeezed in despite Prior getting a hand to it. George saved from Tete Yengi to give Richard King a chance to win it, but the Jamaican saw his attempt saved by Prior. Stevie May had to score for Livingston and did. The final spot-kick would go to Dijksteel and the Dutchman, who scored winning efforts in our shoot-out victories over Hearts and Kilmarnock in the Premier Sports Cup earlier in the season, would have a chance to again be the hero. He duly obligied by firing low into the left-hand corner of the net to ensure Saints' name will be in the hat for the Fifth Round.
Full-Time: Livingston 1-1 St Mirren (St Mirren win 4-3 on penalties)
St Mirren: George, Fraser (c), King, Freckleton, Richardson (Dijksteel 91), Phillips (Donnelly 106), Smyth (Nlundulu 60), Gogic, John (Tanser 104), Idowu (Mooney 104), Mandron (Sobowale 111)
Subs: Mullen, Campbell
Livingston: Prior, Brenet, McGowan (c), Finlayson, Lawal (Pittman 91), Tait (Danso 106), Susoho, Smith (Montano 82), Arfield (May 72), McLennan (Yengi 82), Muirhead (Bokila 90)
Subs: Myles, Kerr, Tamm
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
AR1: David McGeachie
AR2: Liam Duncan
Fourth Official: Alastair Grieve
