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

A last-gasp Marcus Fraser goal saw St Mirren come from behind to make it through to the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup.

After a goalless first-half, the Buddies fell behind early after the interval when Nikolay Todorov slammed home the opener. But Kristian Dennis, on his first start since his return from injury, levelled two minutes later before Fraser knocked in the winner in the final minute of normal time. Saints will face the winners of Kilmarnock and Montrose with the two sides meeting tomorrow at Rugby Park.

It was a real cup tie from start to finish with both sides having numerous chances throughout the 90 minutes. Ilkay Durmus sent a scissor kick over from the edge of the area in the opening moments, while Jamie McGrath flashed wide on 12 minutes.

A minute later Jak Alnwick made two good stops in the space of a minute to keep Todorov and Daniel Mackay from opening the scoring. The goalkeeper was down low to deny the former before getting a hand to the latter's strike. 

On 17 minutes it was opposition goalkeeper Mark Ridgers who was made to work as he saved from Dennis. Dennis was inches away from the first goal on the half-hour mark when he got on the end of a terrific cross-field pass from Kyle McAllister. The striker did well to fashion space before his shot was deflected just wide.

Alnwick made another two big saves to keep the visitors at bay. He did well to push away Todorov's effort on 33 minutes and then got a fingertip to Scott Allan's hit from 20 yards to touch it on to the post. 

Saints were forced into a change a few minutes before the half-time interval. Jake Doyle-Hayes couldn't shake off a knock he had picked up minutes earlier and was replaced by Richard Tait.

With a minute of the half remaining, Dennis did brilliantly well to bring the ball down in a tight space of the box to get a shot away. It was deflected onto the cross bar before falling into the welcoming arms of Ridgers. 

There was an early warning sign at the start of the second-half with Alnwick getting strong hands to turn behind Mackay's strike. From the resulting corner the visitors would take the lead. Todorov was given all the space in the world to slam home from close range to put the Championship side ahead.

But Saints hit back instantly with Dennis levelling within two minutes. The forward smashed into the far corner from just inside the box to net his fifth St Mirren goal and his second in the Scottish Cup this season.

The Buddies could have been ahead a little over 10 minutes later with the woodwork denying Durmus and Dennis. The Turkish winger cracked the bar with a curling drive before Dennis smacked the post from the rebound.

The tie could have gone either way with both sides continuing to create. It looked like Allan had given Caley Thistle the lead again with less than 20 minutes remaining when he raced on to a lovely through ball from Miley Storey. The on-loan Hibernian midfielder's strike slid just centimetres by Alnwick's far post. 

Saints were denied by the woodwork for a fourth time with five minutes remaining as Durmus got his head on the end of a Fraser cross. It cracked off the post with Ridgers gathering despite not knowing too much about it. 

And then, into the final minute of normal time, St Mirren found the winner. Again it looked like the woodwork would stop the Buddies after nifty footwork from Jon Obika saw the striker fire into the post. The ball fell back to substitute Brandon Mason who sent the ball across the face of goal to Fraser who rolled home from close-range to make sure Jim Goodwin's men were the first side to qualify for the last eight. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Connolly, McGrath, Doyle-Hayes (Tait 41), McAllister (MacPherson 46), Durmus, Dennis (Mason 75), Obika 
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Finlayson, Reid, Henderson, Erwin

Inverness: Ridgers, Welsh (Lyall 90), Devine, Deas, Carson, Storey, Allardice, McKay, Allan, D. Mackay, Todorov (Sutherland 87)
Subs Not Used: C.Mackay, McHattie, Doran, MacGregor, Vincent, Harper

Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr
Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson 
Fourth Official: Craig Napier

St Mirren were edged out by Motherwell despite a good performance at Fir Park.

The Buddies had the bulk of possession throughout the 90 minutes and missed a first-half penalty before Devante Cole scored the game's only goal to give the Steelmen all three points. 

Jim Goodwin made one change from the side that defeated Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Cup last week as Ryan Flynn came in for Jon Obika who failed a late fitness test after a groin injury in training. 

The closest clear-cut chance for either side in the opening stages came on six minutes when Jamie McGrath raced onto a Lee Erwin flick-on. The Irish midfielder was closely marshalled by the Motherwell defence but managed to force a save from goalkeeper Liam Kelly who turned his shot away.

Four minutes later Ilkay Durmus went close to netting the opener with a free-kick from 25 yards. The Turkish winger curled over the wall and had Kelly scrambling as it drifted just wide of target.

Jak Alnwick was called into action on 25 minutes with the Englishman making a good block to deny Chris Long. 

Saints were denied a stonewall penalty on the half-hour mark after a handball from Robbie Crawford. There was no doubt the ball clattered off the midfielder's outstretched arm but referee Kevin Clancy was unmoved much to the bemusement of the St Mirren players and staff. 

The Buddies were, however, awarded a penalty just four minutes later when Dylan Connolly was fouled as he broke in from the left. McGrath has been the go to man for Saints from the spot this season but for the first time he was denied from 12 yards as his attempt was saved by Kelly. 

Lee Erwin forced Kelly into another save before the break. The striker brought the ball down brilliantly on his chest and lashed goalward only for Kelly to hold.

Saints were dealt a blow as half-time approached when Flynn pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury and had to be replaced. The. midfielder will go for a scan on Monday to find out the extent of the injury.

St Mirren didn't create as many chances in the second-half as they did in the first 45 but went closest before the hour mark when Stephen O'Donnell dallied on the ball inside the penalty area allowing Jake Doyle-Hayes to steal in. The midfielder was quickly closed down by Declan Gallagher who clattered the ball off the Irishman and over the bar.

And five minutes later Motherwell were ahead. Devante Cole managed to turn in Chris Long's strike from close range. The Saints defence appealed for offside but the goal stood. 

Alnwick did well to deny Motherwell a second 10 minutes later with a good save from Allan Campbell's strike. 

With 15 minutes remaining substitute Cammy MacPherson went close to an equaliser when he met Kristian Dennis' cross but nodded wide. Despite Saints pushing to find a leveller it wasn't to be as we left Lanarkshire empty handed. 

Full-Time: Motherwell 1-0 St Mirren 

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c) (Henderson 85), McCarthy, Connolly, Flynn (MacPherson 46), Doyle-Hayes, Erhahon (McAllister 73), Durmus, McGrath, Erwin (Dennis 73)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Finlayson, Tait, Reid

Motherwell: Kelly, O'Donnell, McGinley, Gallagher, Lamie, Roberts (O'Hara 55), Campbell, Crawford, Lawless (Maguire 46), Long (Mugabi 81), Cole
Subs Not Used: Chapman, Carroll, Hastie, Dunne, Cornelius, Foley

Referee: Kevin Clancy
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee: David Doig
Fourth Official: Barry Cook

St Mirren booked their place in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup after a convincing win at Hamilton Academical.

Kristian Dennis netted on his comeback from injury either side of a Jamie McGrath brace with the Irishman taking his tally to 13 for the season.

Jim Goodwin's men were well worthy of their win as they go into the hat for tomorrow's draw.

Saints were utterly dominant in the opening exchanges and took the lead on four minutes thanks to a wonderful McGrath strike. 

The Buddies created a number of chances in the first 20 minutes and really should have been more than one goal to the good. McGrath had a low strike held by Accies goalkeeper Ryan Fulton while Ilkay Durmus flashed a free-kick just by the post along with Obika also dragging a shot wide. Fulton then made a good stop to deny Obika after the striker got on to a delightful defence-splitting pass from Ethan Erhahon.

But Saints were fired a warning sign on 25 minutes when Jak Alnwick was forced into a good save to deny ex-Saint Lee Hodson. The Englishman got two strong hands on the powerful drive from Hodson to push over the bar.  And with that the home side began to grow into the game. Hakeem Odoffin curled wide from 20 yards on 28 minutes, while Ross Callachan had a strike blocked by Joe Shaughnessy three minutes later.

Callachan should have done better four minutes before the interval with a free-kick around 20 yards from goal but the Accies midfielder harmlessly sent into the arms of Alnwick.

The home side really should have been level minutes after the restart when David Moyo was found unmarked in the Saints box. He striker got his head on it only to nod over when he should have got it on target. 

Dennis made his comeback from injury on 63 minutes when he replaced Dylan Connolly. And a little over 10 minutes after his introduction he sealed the win with a lovely strike from around 25 yards. Fulton was at full stretch but he couldn't get near the effort which nestled into the top corner to all but ensure Saints would find themselves in the draw for the fourth round. 

McGrath added the cherry on the cake 11 minutes from time when he netted his eighth penalty of the season after Obika had been fouled. The Irishman was as cool as ever as he rolled home to secure an emphatic win. 

Full-Time: Hamilton Academical 0-3 St Mirren

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Connolly (Dennis 63), McGrath, Doyle-Hayes, Erhahon, Durmus (Henderson 85), Obika, Erwin (Flynn 54)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Tait, Finlayson, Reid, MacPherson, McAllister

Hamilton: Fulton, Hodson, A.Martin, McMann, Easton, Odoffin, Hughes (Munro 78), S.Martin (Hamilton 37), Callachan, Moyo, Anderson
Subs Not Used: Gourlay, Scully, Stirling, Stanger, C.Smith

Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Fourth Official: David Lowe

St Mirren suffered late heartbreak as a Hamilton goal at the death snatched a top six place from the Buddies.

Jim Goodwin's side were on course for their first ever top six in the current league setup and a guaranteed highest league finish since 1985 thanks to Jamie McGrath's first-half penalty. But with the game heading to its end Hamilton substitute Kyle Munro headed home an equaliser to secure a point for the hosts and consign Saints to the bottom six.

It was St Mirren who had the better of the opening 45 minutes. Lee Erwin, who had come in for Collin Quaner, had the game's first opportunity when he rose to meet a Richard Tait cross. There were suggestions it came off a hand as it was deflected out for a corner from which Tait nodded wide. 

Erwin started to put the pressure on as the half-hour mark approached. Erwin went close to the opener on 27 minutes when he again was the recipient of a Tait cross, but the forward volleyed into the ground and wide. Two minutes later the ball fell kindly for Jon Obika who turned well but had his strike deflected into Kyle Fulton.

Saints were awarded a penalty on 33 minutes when Ilkay Durmus was fouled after going to get his shot away. McGrath stepped up and, as he had done six times previously this season, made no mistake to slot beyond Fulton. 

The Buddies had opportunities to grab a second and all but seal the win in the second-half. A quick break saw McGrath slip the ball to Obika inside the box with the forward denied by a terrific save from Fulton who touched over the bar on 54 minutes. 

Then, just after the hour mark, Obika outmuscled Aaron Martin to go one-on-one with Fulton. The striker had Durmus in space to his left ready for a tap-in but elected to go alone hitting straight into the arms of Fulton. Durmus was inches away from extending the lead with 10 minutes remaining when his free-kick from 25 yards went just over the bar.

With a little over a minute of normal time to go, St Mirren's top six hopes were crushed when the hosts netted an equaliser. Referee Don Robertson awarded Accies what appeared to be a soft free-kick after Joe Shaughnessy had beaten David Moyo to a header. There was no one marking Munro as he drifted in at the back post to bullet home. 

Full-Time: Hamilton Academical 1-1 St Mirren

JIM GOODWIN POST-MATCH REACTION

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Fraser, McGrath, McAllister (Erhahon 56), Doyle-Hayes, Durmus, Erwin (Connolly 56), Obika (Flynn 88)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Finlayson, Mason, MacPherson, Reid, Henderson

Hamilton Academical: Fulton, Hodson, McMann, Stirling (Moyo 45), Easton, Odoffin, A.Martin (Hughes 63), S.Martin, C.Smith (Munro 80), Callachan, Anderson
Subs Not Used: Gourlay, Scully, Trafford, Stanger, Mimnaugh, Redfern

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Michael Banks
Fourth Official: Colin Steven