St Mirren were in scintillating form as they cut the gap at the bottom of the league to just one point with a stunning 6-2 win over Ayr United.
Goals from Stevie Mallan, Gary MacKenzie, Stephen McGinn, Kyle Magennis, Lewis Morgan and Cammy Smith gave the Buddies a third league win on the spin - the first time the club have done so since 2008.
It was another massive three points for Jack Ross' side as they aim to avoid relegation to Ladbrokes League One.
Saints got off to the perfect start with just five minutes on the clock. It had been the visitors had had the better of the early pressure but would find themselves behind when Stevie Mallan drilled home from the edge of the box to put the Buddies ahead. It was the midfielder's 8th goal of the season as he picked the ball up on the edge of the box and sweetly finished it low into the far corner. It was the ideal way to ease any early nerves in a match that could play a significant part come the end of the season.
St Mirren took a firm grip of the match and doubled their advantage on 20 minutes when Gary MacKenzie nodded home. Kyle Magennis was tripped inside the Ayr half winning a free kick. Mallan stepped up to swing the ball into the box, picking out MacKenzie who peeled away from Conrad Balatoni and cushioned a header into the net.
And there was no let up from Saints as they went 3-0 up just moments later. Stelios, back in the team in place of the suspended Gary Irvine, did exceptionally well running down the right, twisting and turning his way into the area before picking out Cammy Smith. Smith's effort was blocked on the line as Ayr tried in vain to get the ball away from the danger area, but McGinn was on hand at the back post to guide it home. It was the perfect way for the captain to mark his 100th appearance for Saints.
At 3-0 with just 23 minutes played you could be forgiven for thinking this was all an April Fools day prank. But this was very real and the Buddies were rampant. It really should've been four just five minutes later when nifty foot work from Mallan saw the 21 year-old open up space for the shot but he sent his attempt just wide of Greg Fleming's post.
Saints fans were in dreamland and it was only going to get better when Magennis grabbed his second goal in the black and white with a little under 10 minutes to half time. McGinn did well to rob Alan Forrest of possession in the middle of the park with Smith picking up the loose ball. He slipped it through for Magennis who rounded Fleming and slotted home from the tightest of angles.
Billy O'Brien had to be alert heading into the interval and he did well to push a low effort from Robbie Crawford by the post.
Half Time: St Mirren 4-0 Ayr United
St Mirren were eager to start the second half the way they had finished the first and added a fifth goal just seven minutes in thanks to Lewis Morgan.
The winger, fresh from a man of the match performance in his Scotland U21s debut on Tuesday night, was played in with a delightful through ball from Loy. And the finish was every bit as pleasing as he walloped it beyond Fleming from the edge of the box.
However, Saints, and Morgan, were dealt a major blow 10 minutes later when he was stretchered off. The 20 year-old has attempt to run on to a flick on from Loy but clipped ankles with Mike Rose and fell to the turf in agony. It was a major blow to the youngster who has been in fine form for the side throughout the season.
The match looked to be petering out with the atmosphere dipping after the injury to Morgan. But Ayr pulled a goal back when half time substitute Paul Cairney lashed home. Saints couldn't clear their lines from a United corner and the midfielder finished low into the net.
And the Honest Men grabbed a second, much to the frustration of the home support who felt Stelios had been fouled in the build up. The Cypriot was clattered into by Cairney allowing the ball to fall to Craig McGuffie who crossed to Farid El Alagui with the striker reducing the deficit to three with a header that left O'Brien with no chance.
But such was the character and desire St Mirren had showed throughout, they made it 6-2 a minute later with Smith grabbing a much deserved goal. Josh Todd jinked into the box before providing John Sutton with a wonderful cross. The Englishman headed into the ground and watched as it came off the post, only for it to fall kindly to Smith who knocked it home.
It was the end of the scoring and saw Saints earn a massive three points to claw themselves to within just one game of today's visitors with a game in hand.
Full Time: St Mirren 6-2 Ayr United
St Mirren: O'Brien, Stelios, Baird, MacKenzie (Webster 86), Eckersley, Mallan (Todd 79), McGinn, Magennis, Morgan (Sutton 68) , Smith, Loy
Subs: Langfield, Gordon, Fjelde, Quinn,
Ayr United: Fleming, Devlin, Boyle, Gilmour (Cairney 45), Rose, Crawford (Wardrope 61), Meggatt, Balatoni (McGuffie 25), Docherty, Forrest, El Alagui
Subs Not Used: Hart, Murphy, Moore, Harkins,
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Assistant Referee: Alan MacFayden
Attendance: 4,620
