St Mirren made it nine points from nine in Group H of the Premier Sports Cup as second-half goals from Curtis Main, Kristian Dennis and Lee Erwin helped Jim Goodwin's men to a 3-1 win at Stenhousemuir. 

After a dominant, but goalless 45, Saints scored three second-half goals to maintain their 100% start to the season and effectively guarantee qualification into the knock-out rounds of the cup.

A bright start for the Buddies saw Cammy MacPherson nearly open the scoring from his own half with just six minutes on the clock. The Saints Academy graduate spotted Stenny goalkeeper Ryan Marshall off his line and, from 50 yards, tried to catch the stopper out with the ball only just drifting wide. 

Despite having the bulk of possession in the opening half-hour, Saints hadn't really managed to trouble Marshall. And the home side would fire the Buddies a warning shot on 29 minutes when Robert Thomson narrowly missed after getting a foot on to Sean Crighton's knock-down. 

But still it was St Mirren who were enjoying the best of the match. MacPherson wasn't far away with a free-kick for Saints on 31 minutes after Greg Kiltie had been fouled 25 yards from goal. The midfielder got plenty on it as he put it over the wall, but sent the attempt over the bar. Marshall was then forced into a brilliant save a couple of minutes later when Main tried an acrobatic effort. The Stenny goalie had to be at full-stretch to push away.

It was Main who should have had St Mirren in front on 38 minutes when he was found in space at the back post. The forward didn't quite catch it flush and couldn't force home.

Saints' first-half dominance may not have yielded a goal for Jim Goodwin's men, but it would only take four minutes after the restart for the Buddies to take the lead. A MacPherson ball over the top caused a mix-up between Marshall and one of his defenders, allowing Main to take advantage and this time he wouldn't miss - knocking into the empty net to score his second goal in as many games. 

Curtis Main scores his second goal in as many games to open the scoring (Image: Andy Barr)

Dennis then scored his first of the season on 65 minutes to double the Buddies lead. A quick throw-in from Ryan Flynn allowed Kiltie to roll the ball across the Stenhousemuir box where Dennis was on hand to knock into the net from close-range in his final act of the match before being replaced by Eamonn Brophy. 

The Buddies appeared home and hosed only for the home side to pull a goal back with less than 15 minutes of the match remaining through Thomas Orr.

Despite a minor scare in the final five minutes, it was St Mirren who looked the more likely to grab a goal in the dying embers and that proved to be the case when Erwin, after some persistence, drove home his first of the season in added time to all but secure Saints' passage into the knockout round of the Premier Sports Cup.

Lee Erwin drives home his first goal of the season (Image: Andy Barr)

Full-Time: Stenhousemuir 1-3 St Mirren

St Mirren: Lyness, Fraser (c), McCarthy, Finlayson, Flynn, MacPherson (Power 67), Erhahon, Kiltie (McGrath 67), Tanser (Henderson 76), Dennis (Brophy 67), Main (Erwin 67)
Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Tait, McAllister, Jack

Stenhousemuir: Marshall, Lyon, Jamieson, Crighton (c), Coll, Mills (Brown 83), Forbes, Wedderburn, Lyon (O'Reilly 56), Thomson (Christie 73), Orr
Subs Not Used: Smith, Anderson, Tierney, Graham

Referee: David Dickinson
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr
Assistant Referee: Barry Reid

Curtis Main's first St Mirren goal got Saints' 2021/22 season off to a winning start. 

The English striker headed home the game's only goal as Jim Goodwin's men defeated Dunfermline 1-0 in front of 500 fans at the SMiSA Stadium.

Saints were well worthy of the points in a dominant display against the cinch Championship side. 

Jamie McGrath - St Mirren Player of the Year last season - had the first effort with 10 minutes played when he drove forward, but he fired high and wide from distance.

Dunfermline goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams was forced into the game's first save when he tipped Scott Tanser's long-range half-volley over the bar.

The Buddies took the lead just before the half-hour mark when Main headed home. The striker leapt above the Pars defence to meet Greg Kiltie's cross. Fon Williams was at full stretch and managed to get a touch but couldn't keep the effort out of the net as Main opened his St Mirren account.

Curtis Main heads home

The forward was proving a handful for the Pars backline and towered over the visiting defence again early in the second-half, but nodded Tanser's cross over. A few minutes later it was Main again who met a McGrath corner kick with Fon Williams doing well to hold. 

Greg Kiltie almost marked his St Mirren debut with a goal after a wonderful surging run. The midfielder drove forward from deep in the Dunfermline half, evading two challenges, before firing a strike which Fon Williams bundled behind.

Saints could have killed the game heading into the final stages. Substitute Lee Erwin fired a rasping effort just wide with 13 minutes remaining while Kristian Dennis should have scored when he latched on to a terrific long-range pass from Charles Dunne. The striker brought the ball down brilliantly but couldn't lift over Fon Williams. 

Dunfermline felt they should have had a penalty in the dying stages of the games when the ball came off the hand of Dunne inside the area, but referee Craig Napier wasn't having it. It would have been harsh on the defender who impressed on his debut. 

In the end, one goal proved to be enough as Saints marked the return of supporters with a win.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-0 Dunfermline Athletic

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne, Henderson, McGrath (Erhahon 66), Power, Kiltie (MacPherson 66), Tanser (McAllister 74), Main (Erwin 66), Brophy (Dennis 66)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Tait, Finlayson, Flynn

Dunfermline: Fon Williams, Comrie, Edwards, Graham MacDonald, O'Hara, Todorov, Pybus, Allan, Thomas (Wighton 62), Watson
Subs Not Used: Mehmet, Gaspuitis, Fenton, Todd

Referee: Craig Napier
Assistant Referee: Ross Macleod
Assistant Referee: Craig Macrae

St Mirren warmed up for Saturday's Premier Sports Cup opener against Dumbarton with a convincing 3-1 win over Ayr United at the SMiSA Stadium.

Jay Henderson, Lee Erwin and Kristian Dennis were all on the scoresheet as the Buddies came from behind to win in our final pre-season test before cup competition gets underway this weekend.

The Honest Men took the lead on just five minutes after a mix-up between Jak Alnwick and Joe Shaughnessy allowed Tomi Adeloye to steal in and roll home.

But Saints were level 15 minutes later when St Mirren Academy graduate Henderson netted from close-range. 

Jay Henderson nets to level for Saints (Picture by Jeff Holmes)

The entire starting line-up changed during the second-half and it was substitutes Erwin who put Saints in front after a scramble in the six-yard area on the hour mark. And with just under 20 minutes remaining, Dennis put the seal on the win from the penalty spot after he'd been fouled in the Ayr United box.

Jim Goodwin's side now travel to Dumbarton on Saturday as the 2021/22 season gets underway.

Full-Time: St Mirren 3-1 Ayr United

St Mirren: Alnwick (Lyness 58), McCarthy (Finlayson 58), Shaughnessy (Fraser 45), Dunne (Tait 58), Henderson (Flynn 58), Power (Reid 58), McGrath (Kiltie 45), Erhahon (MacPherson 45), Tanser (McAllister 58), Main (Erwin 58), Brophy (Dennis 58)

CLICK HERE FOR REACTION FROM JIM GOODWIN

St Mirren secured their highest top-flight finish since 1989 after a goalless draw with Dundee United. 

A point - combined with Motherwell losing to Ross County - ensured Jim Goodwin's men finished in seventh place un the Scottish Premiership. 

Saints went into the match in eighth - knowing a win or a draw could be enough for seventh depending on how Motherwell fared at home to relegation battling Ross County. 

After a quiet opening 20 minutes, the game was awoken when Lee Erwin flashed a shot just wide from the edge of the area before Marcus Fraser made a vital block to deny Lawrence Shankland up the other end of the park a minute later. 

The Buddies felt they were denied a penalty on 27 minutes when Eamonn Brophy went down under the challenge of goalkeeper Ross Doohan. The forward broke through the United defence to go one-on-one with Doohan but was felled as he tried to round the goalkeeper. Referee Euan Anderson was unmoved to the frustration of Brophy and the Saints bench. 

Saints fashioned a couple of chances before the end of the half with Jamie McGrath - named St Mirren Player of the Year - heading wide from a Jay Henderson cross and Brophy snapping an effort just by the post after some good footwork to manoeuvre himself into a shooting position.

It was Brophy who went closest again for St Mirren after the interval when his rasping strike was touched over by Doohan on 54 minutes. 

Saints again came close on 68 minutes after a lovely passage of play. One touch passing involving substitutes Kristian Dennis, Jon Obika and Kyle McAllister saw the ball worked to Cammy MacPherson who curled wide from just inside the box.

With less than 20 minutes remaining, Dundee United were reduced to 10 men after a really poor challenge from Jamie Robson on McAllister. The United bench were livid at the decision as the defender was given a straight red but it was hard to argue that the referee had made the correct decision after Robson caught McAllister high with his studs showing.

United arguably had the better opportunities in the closing stages but couldn't take them as the game ended goalless. The St Mirren bench awaited news of the result at Fir Park before celebrating our highest league finish in 32 years. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-0 Dundee United

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Tait, Henderson, Flynn (MacPherson 46), Erhahon, Connolly (McAllister 62), McGrath, Brophy (Dennis 56), Erwin (Obika 56)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Finlayson, Reid, Quaner

Dundee United: Doohan, L.Smith, Edwards, Chalmers (Sporle 67), Robson, Harkes (McNulty 56), Fuchs, Appere, Meekison (Hoti 56), K.Smith (Reynolds 83), Shankland
Subs Not Used: Deniz, Clark, Butcher, Davidson, Watson

Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: John McCrossan
Fourth Official: John Beaton

St Mirren picked up a share of the spoils in their final away match of 2020/21 after a pulsating 90 minutes at Kilmarnock.

The Buddies looked to be heading for defeat when a Kyle Lafferty brace had the home side in control. Goals from Jamie McGrath and Cammy MacPherson dragged back on to level terms only for Killie to take the lead again through Greg Kiltie with less than 10 minutes to go. 

But Collin Quaner's first St Mirren goal earned Saints a point as our season get sets to draw to a close on Sunday.

Kilmarnock, fighting for their lives in the relegation battle, got off to the perfect start when they took the lead on eight minutes. The Saints defence was sleeping as Lafferty ran on to Chris Burke's low corner to slam beyond Jak Alnwick. 

The Buddies should have found themselves level four minutes later when Conor McCarthy sent a brilliant cross in from the left. Jay Henderson only needed the faintest of touches to turn in but couldn't get anything on it as it drifted wide. And less than a minute after that Jon Obika spurned a glorious chance for a leveller as he headed Henderson's cross over from close range when he should have hit the target.

Kilmarnock could have doubled their lead with a little more than 10 minutes of the half remaining. Burke went on a driving run before breaking into the St Mirren box and forced a strong save from Alnwick. Mitch Pinnock was following up on the rebound which was well blocked by Marcus Fraser before Lafferty went down in the box and received a yellow for simulation. 

The home side nearly made it two almost immediately after the restart when Daniel Finlayson was forced to head Lafferty's hooked effort off the line. Saints goalkeeper Alnwick fumed at the officials as he believed the ball had already crossed the byline.

Killie again could've have extended their advantage when Pinnock's pinpoint cross met the head of Burke who headed straight at Alnwick from six yards out. 

Kilmarnock's pressure would tell as they did grab a second when Lafferty headed home Calum Waters' cross on 62 minutes.

But within a minute Saints would reduce the deficit with Jamie McGrath netting for the 17th time this season. The Irishman's first strike was blocked by Zeno Ibsen Rossi before he slammed in the follow-up. 

Saints began to have the bulk of the possession with Killie pinned in their own half and the equaliser came with only 12 minutes to go. Jay Henderson rolled the ball into the path of MacPherson who took it first time and lasered into the top corner. 

It was a terrific comeback for Saints but it wouldn't last as three minutes later Kilmarnock scored their own screamer to retake the lead. Kiltie ran on to McCarthy's header and ferociously volleyed into the back of the net as the home side looked to have secured the three points. 

But just two minutes after, Quaner netted his first goal for the Buddies to draw Jim Goodwin's side level.

The drama didn't end there with Alnwick, captain in place of the absent Joe Shaughnessy, made a sensational block in injury time to deny Burke a winner and ensure the Saints would take a point back to Paisley.

Full-Time: Kilmarnock 3-3 St Mirren

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Finlayson (McAllister 82), McCarthy, Henderson, Doyle-Hayes (MacPherson 66), Flynn, Durmus (Connolly 46), McGrath, Obika (Quaner 66), Erwin (Dennis 66)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Tait, Mason, Erhahon

Kilmarnock: Rogers, Millen, Broadoot, Ibsen Rossi, Waters (Haunstrup 84), Power, Dicker, Pinnock, Burke, Kiltie (Whitehall 90), Lafferty
Subs Not Used: Doyle, McGowan, Medley, Mulumbu, Thisbola, McKenzie, Oakley

Referee: David Munro
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Fourth Official: Chris Graham

Two goals in two minutes for St Johnstone put St Mirren out of the Scottish Cup at the semi-final stage.

After an evenly fought first half, goals from Chris Kane and Glenn Middleton gave Callum Davidson’s men a lead the Buddies could not quite come back from.

With less than ten minutes to go Conor McCarthy pulled one back and despite throwing all they had in the closing stages St Mirren were unable to get the crucial equaliser.

St Mirren began the match on the front foot, pressing from Jamie McGrath earning an early opening but the cross went beyond the head of Lee Erwin.

There were two more near misses for the Buddies in the opening ten minutes, as a cross from Ilkay Durmus and free kick from Jak Alnwick were both inches out of reach for their targets.

Referee Willie Collum then waved away the Buddies protests when a volley hit by Kristian Dennis appeared to strike Jamie McCart’s hand.

From a hand in the St Johnstone box to one in St Mirren’s box. Alnwick was called upon at the other end and pulled off a stunning save to deny Rooney’s 20-yard effort.

Erwin had the best chance of the first half getting to a Dennis cross first but could only direct the ball at Zander Clark in the St Johnstone goal.

St Johnstone started the second half well on top, but it was the Buddies who had the better of the chances. Ethan Erhahon’s incisive pass found Dennis inside the box. The striker struggled to get the ball under control though and both Dennis and Erwin lashed efforts into St Johnstone defenders.

St Johnstone continued to threaten from range, Wotherspoon’s turn and hit going just wide.

The Buddies then spurned a great chance to take the lead just after the hour mark, Durmus skinning Rooney easily but Quaner was unable to turn home the fizzed cross.

The missed chances were then punished. With 20 minutes left to play, Kane turned home a cross from substitute Glenn Middleton.

Middleton struck immediately after to double St Johnstone’s advantage, hitting a free kick into the top corner.

It could have been three soon after, a great reaction save from Alnwick denied Rooney from close range.

St Mirren kept pushing forward and with the introduction of Brophy had plenty of firepower available.

It was through Brophy that the Buddies forced their way back into the tie, the striker winning a free kick. The resulting cross swung in by McGrath and bulleted home by McCarthy. Brophy almost hauled St Mirren level straight after but his curling effort went wide.

Then it was Quaner’s turn to try to force a leveller but his volley from McCarthy’s knockdown flew high over the bar.

The Buddies threw everything forward in the final minutes but couldn’t get the equalising goal.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-2 St Johnstone

JIM GOODWIN POST-MATCH REACTION

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Tait (Connolly 68), Doyle-Hayes, Erhahon (Brophy 76), Durmus, McGrath, Dennis (Quaner 57), Erwin
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Finlayson, Flynn, McAllister, Henderson, Obika

St Johnstone: Clark, Booth, McCart, Kerr, Gordon, Rooney, Bryson, McCann, Wotherspoon, Melamed (Middleton 66), Kane (O'Halloran 86)
Subs Not Used: Zlamal, Brown, Conway, Gilmour, Robertson, Ferguson

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr 
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Fourth Official: Craig Napier

A disappointing afternoon at the SMiSA Stadium saw St Mirren beaten by Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premiership.

Goals either side of half-time from Ross Callachan and David Moyo had the Lanarkshire side 2-0 ahead. Jamie McGrath pulled one back for Saints but it wasn't enough to prevent the Buddies from a first defeat against Accies since December 2018.

Jim Goodwin had initially made four changes from the side that won at Kilmarnock on Monday night. In came Daniel Finlayson, Ethan Erhahon, Cammy MacPherson and Collin Quaner in place of Conor McCarthy, Ilkay Durmus, Jamie McGrath and Lee Erwin. But defender Marcus Fraser dropped out in the warm-up and was replaced by McCarthy.  

It was the relegation-threatened Accies who were the brighter of the sides despite a scrappy opening to the match. Joe Shaughnessy made a good block on 12 minutes to deny Moyo, while Kyle Munro had a header cleared off the line a minute later. 

Quaner, making just his second start for St Mirren, had the first real opportunity for the home side in the opening 20 minutes when he dragged a shot wide from 20 yards. And four minutes later it was his good work that allowed Kristian Dennis to get a shot away from the edge of the box. The striker's effort was straight down the throat of Kyle Gourlay who held with ease. 

The visitors took the lead on 28 minutes when Callachan knocked home from close-range. Ex-Saint Lee Hodson hooked the ball over his shoulder where Callachan flicked into the far corner beyond the outstretched Jak Alnwick. 

The Buddies had two half-chances as the first-half drew to a close. MacPherson had a shot from distance deflected over while McCarthy curled wide from the edge of the box following the resultant corner. 

Accies doubled their lead just before the hour. Saints lost the ball in the middle of the park with the ball fed wide to Bruce Anderson. The striker went for goal himself but it came off his strike partner Moyo and trickled over the line.

Jim Goodwin responded by making a triple substitution. Jamie McGrath, Ilkay Durmus and Lee Erwin replaced MacPherson, Richard Tait and Quaner. The Saints looked livelier after the changes and almost immediately pulled a goal back. Dennis sprung the offside trap but didn't connect with the ball fully which allowed Gourlay to make a wonderful one-handed stop. 

But within a minute of that chance, the visitors almost made it 3-0 with Callachan thundering a ferocious effort off the cross bar.

The Buddies did reduce the deficit with just under 20 minutes of the game remaining. Durmus' cross was deflected into the path of Jay Henderson in the middle of the box. His touch teed it off nicely for the oncoming McGrath who powered home his 16th goal of the season. 

Saints should have grabbed a share of the spoils on 84 minutes when Henderson passed up a glorious opportunity to level. Erwin's terrific cross-field pass found the Saints academy graduate one-on-one with Gourlay but he smashed over. 

Focus now turns to next weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final as Saints head to Hampden to face St Johnstone next Sunday.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-2 Hamilton 

JIM GOODWIN POST-MATCH REACTION

St Mirren: Alnwick, McCarthy, Finlayson, Shaughnessy (c), Tait (Durmus 61), Henderson, Doyle-Hayes, Erhahon, MacPherson (McGrath 61), Dennis (McAllister 71), Quaner (Erwin 61)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Mason

Hamilton Academical: Gourlay, Odoffin, McMann (c), Hamilton, A.Martin, Hodson, Mimnaugh (Stanger 89), Munro (L.Smith 87), Callachan (Thomas 90), Anderson (Trafford 88), Moyo
Subs Not Used: Scully, Stirling, C.Smith, Redfern

Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland
Fourth Official: Gavin Duncan

KICK-OFF: Kristian Dennis takes kick-off for St Mirren.

10 mins - Scrappy opening 10 minutes at the SMiSA Stadium with no real chances for either side. MacPherson sends in a good ball from the right with Dennis sliding in but Kyle Gourlay manages to gather at the second attempt. [0-0]

12 mins - Good block from Shaughnessy to deny David Moyo. [0-0]

13 mins - Kyle Munro effort head off the line by the Saints defence.

13 mins -  Yellow! Ross Callachan booked for a foul on Jay Henderson. [0-0]

15 mins - Ross Callachan gets in ahead of Daniel Finlayson but stabs the effort wide. [0-0]

17 mins - Hakeem Odoffin's volley deflected over the bar. [0-0]

20 mins - Quaner drags a shot wide from the edge of the box. [0-0]

24 mins - Good break from Saints as Quaner drives forward. The German knocks the ball wide to Dennis who cuts inside and drives an effort straight into the arms of Kyle Gourlay. [0-0]

28 mins - GOAL! Ross Callachan gives the visitors the lead as he flicks home from Lee Hodson's cross. [0-1]

32 mins - Yellow! Erhahon is booked. [0-1]

36 mins - David Moyo's cross comes off the bar and goes over. [0-1]

40 mins - MacPherson drives forward and has his strike from 20 yards deflected over. [0-1]

41 mins - McCarthy curls wide from the edge of the box. [0-1]

HALF-TIME: St Mirren 0-1 Hamilton Academical

RESTART: Second-half underway. [0-1]

58 mins - GOAL! Saints give the ball away in the middle of the park. Bruce Anderson breaks into the box with his initial shot turned home by David Moyo. [0-2]

61 mins - SUB! Triple change for Saints as Jamie McGrath, Ilkay Durmus and Lee Erwin replace Cammy MacPherson, Richard Tait and Collin Quaner. [0-2]

62 mins - CHANCE! Brilliant one-handed save from Kyle Gourlay denies Dennis. [0-2]

63 mins - Almost 3-0 to Hamilton as Ross Callachan crashes a strike off the bar. [0-2]

66 mins - Bruce Anderson breaks the offside trap but has his effort saved by Alnwick. [0-2]

71 mins - GOAL! Saints pull one back! It's a 16th goal of the season for Jamie McGrath as he slams home from just inside the box. [1-2]

71 mins - SUB! Kyle McAllister is on for Kristian Dennis. [1-2]

73 mins - Close! Jay Henderson flashes a strike just over. [1-2]

82 mins - Ilkay Durmus smashes well over from a tight angle. [1-2]

84 mins -  CLOSE! St Mirren should be level after Lee Erwin's brilliant pass finds Jay Henderson one-on-one with the goalkeeper but the Saints academy graduate slams over. [1-2]

88 mins - Sub! Double change for Hamilton with Lewis Smith and Charlie Trafford on for Kyle Munro and Bruce Anderson. [1-2]

89 mins - Sub! George Stanger replaces Reegan Mimnaugh. [1-2]

90 mins - Three additional minutes. [1-2]

90 mins - Sub! Nathan Thomas replaces Ross Callachan. [1-2]

FULL-TIME: St Mirren 1-2 Hamilton Academical

St Mirren: Alnwick, McCarthy, Finlayson, Shaughnessy (c), Tait (Durmus 61), Henderson, Doyle-Hayes, Erhahon, MacPherson (McGrath 61), Dennis (McAllister 71), Quaner (Erwin 61)
Subs: Lyness, Mason

Hamilton Academical: Gourlay, Odoffin, McMann (c), Hamilton, A.Martin, Hodson, Mimnaugh (Stanger 89), Munro (L.Smith 87), Callachan (Thomas 90), Anderson (Trafford 88), Moyo
Subs: Scully, Stirling, C.Smith, Redfern

Referee: John Beaton

St Mirren will play St Johnstone in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Kilmarnock. 

Ilkay Durmus deservedly put Saints ahead on 24 minutes, but the Buddies were behind at half-time after goals from Zeno Ibsen Rossi and Greg Kiltie. Saints looked to be heading for the exit only for captain Joe Shaughnessy to bullet home a header with six minutes of normal time remaining. 

The game went to extra-time and despite being reduced to 10 men, Kilmarnock took the lead again with Ross Millen scoring from the penalty spot. The drama wouldn't end there as Saints were awarded a penalty of their own in the final minute of extra-time which Jamie McGrath scored to take it to a shoot-out.

McGrath, Cammy MacPherson, Collin Quaner and Shaughnessy all netted from 12 yards while Jak Alnwick saved from Rory McKenzie. That allowed Kyle McAllister to slot home the decisive spot-kick to send Saints through to the last four. 

Saints had started with intent and looked really up for it in the opening stages. The Buddies should have had the lead on three minutes when Lee Erwin drove into the box from the right side and sent a teasing ball across the face of the box where neither Kristian Dennis or Durmus could get a toe to it. 

But the pressure would tell when Durmus gave Saints the lead on 24 minutes. McGrath released the ball wide to Durmus who charged into the box from the right. The Turkish winger sent the ball across which Killie goalkeeper Colin Doyle attempted to gather but could only succeed in spilling into his own net. 

Kilmarnock took the lead in the final minute of the first-half with Greg Kiltie slamming home the cut-back from George Oakley after the Killie forward had beaten the offside track.

Kiltie could have put Kilmarnock 3-1 in front just two minutes after the break but for a brilliant last-ditch challenge from Shaughnessy. 

The home side had their tails up and again could have had the third goal only for McGrath to be in the right place to nod Ross Millen's header off the line on 52 minutes, while Alnwick made a terrific save to turn over a Kiltie strike five minutes later. 

Jim Goodwin reacted by making two changes with Quaner and Ethan Erhahon coming on for Erwin and Dennis. Quaner looked lively when coming on and laid the ball off to McGrath who curled just over on 67 minutes in what was the closest St Mirren came to an equaliser. 

Saints started pressing Kilmarnock in search of the leveller and it came with a little over five minutes to go. Skipper Shaughnessy rose the highest to bullet home McGrath's free-kick and ensure another 30 minutes of extra-time. 

Kilmarnock, who made their final changes at the start of extra-time when Rory McKenzie and Gary Dicker replaced Kiltie and Burke, were reduced to 10 men when Nicke Kabamba pulled up with an injury and couldn't continue. 

But despite their disadvantage they would take the lead on 102 minutes when Ross Millen scored from the penalty spot. The defender slotted home from 12 yards after referee Don Robertson judged that McAllister had fouled Mitch Pinnock.

Saints felt they should have had a penalty two minutes into the second period of extra-time when McGrath's strike was deflected wide and looked like it may have come off the arm of the Kilmarnock defender. All that was given was a corner which Shaughnessy met but Doyle was equal to the header. 

It looked like it just wasn't going to be St Mirren's night before Doyle fouled Jake Doyle-Hayes in the box in the final minute of extra-time. As he has done so often, McGrath rolled home to net his 15th goal of the season and take the game to penalties.

The Buddies were flawless from the spot and following Alnwick's save from McKenzie, McAllister slammed home to secure a semi for Saints.

Full-Time: Kilmarnock 3-3 St Mirren (St Mirren win 5-4 on penalties)

JIM GOODWIN REACTION

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser (MacPherson 106), McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Tait, Henderson, McGrath, Doyle-Hayes, Durmus (McAllister 72), Erwin (Erhahon 61), Dennis (Quaner 61)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Finlayson, Mason, Reid

Kilmarnock: Doyle, Haunstrup, Broadfoot, Ibsen Rossi, Millen, Power, Mulumbu (Tshibola 76), Kiltie (McKenzie 90), Pinnock, Burke (Dicker 90), Oakley (Kabamba 81)
Subs Not Used: Rogers, McGowan, Dikamona, Whitehall, Waters

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Kylie McMullan
Fourth Official: Greg Aitken

Injury-hit St Mirren picked up three Premiership points after a 3-1 win away to Ross County.

Second-half goals from Lee Erwin, Ilkay Durmus and Jamie McGrath saw the Buddies come from behind to win at the Global Energy Stadium for the second time this season and move the Buddies back into seventh. 

Jim Goodwin was without a number of first-team regulars due to injury and handed St Mirren Academy graduate Jay Henderson was handed his first start for the Saints and almost got it off to the perfect start when he touched just wide in the opening two minutes. 

The Buddies dominated the opening proceedings - having the bulk of the possession and playing some tidy stuff. A neat passage of play on 12 minutes ended with Erwin bringing the ball in well before laying off for Marcus Fraser who drove over from distance. 

But it was the home side who would take the lead with 18 minutes played. The Saints defence couldn't clear their lines from a free-kick which allowed Jordan Tillson to head back into the box where Jordan White flicked beyond Jak Alnwick. 

Alnwick was called into action 10 minutes later when he was down quickly to get two strong hands on to a low Michael Gardyne strike from the edge of the box.

County really should have made it 2-0 just after the half-hour mark when ex-Saint Jason Naismith sent a dangerous low cross along the face of goal. Billy McKay was sliding in but couldn't get anything on it to divert it home.

But at 1-0, Saints were still very much in the match and brilliant play from Henderson on the right wing saw the 19-year-old beat his man before sending a wonderful cross on to the head of Kristian Dennis with County goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw at full stretch to save.

With the clock ticking away at the end of the first-half, Alnwick made a wonderful one-handed stop to keep the deficit at one heading into the interval. The goalkeeper was at full-stretch to tip Tillson's strike over.

McKay was a whisker away from doubling County's advantage three minutes after the break. The striker was slipped in by Gardyne and flashes inches wide of the far post. 

It was a miss that County would be left to rue as St Mirren levelled two minutes later. Richard Tait's cross from the right was perfect for the onrushing Erwin to bullet home a terrific header to equalise. 

Conor McCarthy almost gave St Mirren the lead on the hour mark when he flick from a corner was cleared off the line.

Saints made two changes with a little over 20 minutes to play as Kyle McAllister and Collin Quaner were introduced in place of Henderson and Dennis. The impact told within three minutes as the Buddies would take the lead. A quick counter attack saw Quaner drive forward before sliding a perfect pass across the area to Durmus who slotted low into the far corner. 

The win could have been more comfortable for Saints in the end with MacPherson's knocking into the side-netting and curling just wide either side of McAllister cracking the post. But the points were sealed in injury time when McGrath netted his 14th goal of the season from the penalty spot after a handball in the box. The Irishman sent Laidlaw the wrong way to ensure the points. 

Full-Time: Ross County 1-3 St Mirren

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Tait (Finlayson 90), Henderson (McAllister 68), McGrath, MacPherson, Durmus, Dennis (Quaner 68), Erwin
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Mason

Ross County: Laidlaw, Naismith (Spittal 77), Watson, Iacovtti, Hjelde, Tillson, Draper (Shaw 82), Vigurs (Charles-Cook 67), Gardyne (Hylton 67), White, McKay (Paton 67)
Subs Not Used: Hilton, Donaldson, Kelly, Lakin

Referee: Bobby Madden
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Assistant Referee: Andy Milne
Fourth Official: Steven McLean