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

Saints hopes for a top six finish in the Scottish Premiership will go on until the last game before the split following a disappointed defeat at Ibrox.

Two goals in two minutes in the first-half from Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos put Rangers in control, before a goal early in the second-half from Ianis Hagi sealed a 3-0 win for the Ibrox side. 

Ryan Kent pounced on the loose ball and slammed home from 20 yards to put the hosts in front on 14 minutes. And two minutes later it was 2-0. Alfredo Morelos ghosted into the Saints box and slid low into the far corner to double the home side's advantage.

The Buddies only half-chance in the first 45 came on 34 minutes when Dylan Connolly raced clear of Filip Helander before knocking wide after breaking into the box.

Connor Goldson went close to added a third for Rangers six minutes before the break. The defender rose above Marcus Fraser to meet a Borna Barisic free-kick but nodded inches wide of the far post. 

And hopes of a Saints comeback in the second-half were extinguished within 20 seconds of the restart when Ianis Hagi made it 3-0. The Romanian was left in acres of space at the far post and had time to control Kent's pass before smashing into the back of the net. 

Saints could have pulled a goal back with just over 20 minutes of the game remaining. Jake Doyle-Hayes' miss-hit effort fell into the path of substitute Jon Obika. The striker got a flick on it only to be denied by a wonderful one-handed save by Allan McGregor. 

It was then Alnwick's turn to make a top class save in the dying moments when he made a wonderful block from Jermain Defoe's close-range effort. 

There was a positive for Saints in the final few moments when St Mirren Youth Academy prospect Dylan Reid became the youngest player to ever play for the Buddies, and in the Scottish Premiership, at just 16 years and five days old when he replaced Ethan Erhahon with two minutes of normal time remaining. 

Full-Time: Rangers 3-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy, Tait, Doyle-Hayes, Erhahon (Reid 88), Connolly (MacPherson 71), McGrath (Flynn 71), Durmus (McAllister 55), Quaner (Obika 55)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Henderson, Jamieson, Erwin

Rangers: McGregor, Patterson, Goldson, Helander (Balogun 58), Barisic, Davis (Arfield 59), Kamara, Aribo, Kent (Stewart 81), Hagi (Wright 73), Morelos (Defoe 73)
Subs Not Used: McLaughlin, Bassey, Simpson, Itten

Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Lloyd Wilson

St Mirren got back to winning ways to boost their top six hopes thanks to a late Jamie McGrath penalty kick.

It looked like Saints were heading for a fifth draw on the bounce before Collin Quaner was fouled in the box with less than 10 minutes remaining. McGrath made no mistake from 12 yards to net his 10th of the season and secure a precious three points for the Buddies.

Jim Goodwin's men made a positive start with Lee Erwin splitting the Ross County defence with a lovely through pass on four minutes for Dylan Connolly to run on to. The Irish winger raced down the right side to meet the ball, but under pressure he slammed wide.

A bit of head tennis in the County box saw Connolly presented with another chance on 22 minutes but he smashed over from 12 yards. A minute later McGrath had a go from distance after driving forward though the tame effort from 25 yards was held by Ross Laidlaw. 

The visitors had a good chance on 28 minutes when ex-Saint Tony Andreu met a Michael Gardyne cross from the left. The Frenchman seemed to get the ball caught up in his feet as he looked to get the strike away allowing Saints goalkeeper Jak Alnwick to gather. 

Within 60 seconds, St Mirren were denied the opener by a wonderful save from Laidlaw. The Buddies were awarded a free-kick on the right-side near the touchline after Carl Tremarco was high and late in a challenge on Connolly. Kyle McAllister swung the ball in from the right and put it straight on the head of Conor McCarthy. Somehow Laidlaw got a hand to it to keep the the score level. 

After a bright first-half for the home side, it was the visitors who had the best opportunities at the beginning of the second 45. Alnwick made a truly magnificent save from point-blank range to deny Jordan White after the striker leapt above the Saints defence. From the same phase of play the ball was worked to Stephen Kelly on the edge of the area and he slammed into the cross-bar. 

Jim Goodwin, who had to bring on Richard Tait in place of the injured Joe Shaughnessy at half-time, made four changes in the second-half to try and find a breakthrough with Cammy MacPherson, Jon Obika, Quaner and Ryan Flynn replacing Ethan Erhahon, Connolly, Erwin and Ilkay Durmus. 

But with 15 minutes remaining, County went inches away from finding the opener with MacPherson in the right place at the right time to head Alex Iacovitti's volley off the line. 

Then, with eight minutes of the match remaining, Saints were awarded a penalty kick when Quaner went down under a challenge in the box. McGrath was the man to take and, as he has done all season, rolled home to earn what could prove to be a massive three points for the Buddies. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-0 Ross County

JIM GOODWIN POST-MATCH REACTION

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c) (Tait 45), Doyle-Hayes, McGrath, Erhahon (MacPherson 56), Connolly (Obika 56), McAllister, Durmus (Flynn 66), Erwin (Quaner 56)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Finlayson, Henderson, Jamieson

Ross County: Laidlaw, Naismith, Hjelde, Watson (c), Tremarco (Iacovitti 45), Spittal (Tillson 64), Kelly, Lakin (Paton 67), Gardyne (Shaw 45), Andreu (Donaldson 45), White 
Subs Not Used: Hilton, Draper, Hylton, McKay

Referee: Greg Aitken
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr 
Assistant Referee: Joseph Lawson
Fourth Official: Alan Newlands

A goalless draw with Motherwell saw St Mirren move two points clear of Dundee United to remain in sixth place with three games to go until the Scottish Premiership split.

Jim Goodwin made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 against Livingston on Saturday with the surprise inclusion of Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jamie McGrath in place on Ryan Flynn and Dylan Connolly.

The first-half was a dreary affair with very little to shout about. Jordan Roberts dragged a shot wide from distance from the visitors on 12 minutes while Joe Shaughnessy headed well wide just after the half-hour mark after getting on the end of a pinpoint McGrath free-kick. 

Barry Maguire went closest for the visitors on 35 minutes when his effort from 20 yards was deflected just by. The Steelmen felt they should have had a penalty four minutes later when Tony Watt stayed on his feet after being slightly clipped by Conor McCarthy. The forward played on and moved away from the defender to send a tempting ball across the face of the St Mirren goal with no takers. 

A brilliant stop from Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly denied Jon Obika less than a minute into the second-half. McGrath worked the ball wide to Durmus with the Turkish winger picking out Obika in the Motherwell box. The striker took it blisteringly on the half-volley with Kelly doing well to push behind. 

The visitors then started to have the better of the second 45. Allan Campbell lashed over after a good move on 53 minutes, before Devante Cole shot straight at Jak Alnwick after wriggling clear of McCarthy. 

Saints made two changes to try and turn the game in their favour with Lee Erwin and Kyle McAllister replacing Cammy MacPherson and Richard Tait. But still it was the away side who had the more clear-cut chances. Alnwick had to be alert to deny Cole on 72 minutes and it was the striker who thought he had put Motherwell in front when he got the merest of flicks on a Roberts corner only for it to come off the post. 

The Buddies would have one final opportunity themselves in added time, but substitute Kyle McAllister's curling effort from inside the box was deflected over as the Saints had to settle for just a point on the fourth game on the spin. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-0 Motherwell

JIM GOODWIN POST-MATCH REACTION

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Tait (McAllister 73), McGrath, MacPherson (Erwin 69), Doyle-Hayes, Erhahon, Durmus, Obika (Connolly 82)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Urminsky, Finlayson, Flynn, Henderson, Jamieson

Motherwell: Kelly, O'Donnell, Magloire, Lamie, Carroll, Campbell, Crawford, Maguire, Roberts, Cole, Watt
Subs Not Used: Morrison, Cornelius, Long, Devine, Lawless, Hastie, McGinley, Johnston, Polworth

Referee: Kevin Clancy
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Assistant Referee: Gary Hilland
Fourth Official: David Lowe

St Mirren drew their third match in a row following a stalemate with Livingston at the SMiSA Stadium.

A Conor McCarthy own-goal gave the visitors an early lead before a stunning Cammy MacPherson goal got Saints level before the break. And 1-1 was how it would finish as Jim Goodwin's side stayed in sixth and moved a point ahead of Dundee United. 

The manager made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Hamilton Academical on Wednesday with Ryan Flynn and Dylan Connolly in for Kyle McAllister and Lee Erwin.

Saints had started brightly - winning a free-kick in a good area, centrally, 25 yards from goal on three minutes. Ilkay Durmus took as he looked to add to his goal on Wednesday night, but slammed into the wall.

Then, with just seven minutes played, Livingston went in front. It was fortuitous for the visitors as Richard Tait's headed clearance bounced off McCarthy and into the Saints net. 

But immediately, St Mirren went in search for a quick equaliser with MacPherson using the horrendous conditions to let fly from distance. It was an awkward one for Livingston goalkeeper Robby McCrorie who just managed to punch clear. 

Craig Sibbald then had a go from 20 yards which Jak Alnwick had to get down well to push away on the half-hour mark. 

Two minutes later, the Buddies were level thanks to a stunning strike from MacPherson. A good passage of play saw Jon Obika flick the ball on to the Saints Academy graduate who drove forward before cracking into the top corner of the net from 20 yards with his weaker foot.

The conditions were getting the better of the match in the second-half with swirling wind and rain making it difficult for either side to get the ball down and play. It took until the last 10 minutes of the game for Saints to really exert pressure in search of a winner. 

Lee Erwin, who came on for the goalscorer, did brilliantly to nod down a Marcus Fraser pass into the path of fellow substitute Kyle McAllister. The number 10 had his shot blocked by a Livi defender. It then fell to Durmus whose hit was deflected over by Efe Ambrose. 

A minute later McCrorie was forced into a stop from Tait's powerful effort from the edge of the area. The 'keeper couldn't take it at the first attempt but managed to smother before Erwin could get on the end of it. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 Livingston

JIM GOODWIN POST-MATCH REACTION

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Tait, Flynn, MacPherson (Erwin 73), Erhahon, Durmus, Connolly (McAllister 60), Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Urminsky, Finlayson, Henderson, Jamieson

Livingston: McCrorie, Devlin, Ambrose, Guthrie (c), Serrano, Holt, Sibbald (Lawson 64), Mullin (Emmanuel-Thomas 69), Pittman, Forrest (Taylor-Sinclair 56), Reilly (Kabia 64)
Subs Not Used: Stryjek, McMillan, Pignatiello, Tiffoney, Poplatnik

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Graeme Leslie
Assistant Referee: Michael Banks
Fourth Official: Gavin Ross

St Mirren were held to a 1-1 draw against Hamilton Academical at the SMiSA Stadium in the Scottish Premiership. 

Ilkay Durmus' third goal of the season gave Saints the lead early in the second-half, but Accies levelled thanks to a deflected strike from Bruce Anderson on 68 minutes.

Ethan Erhahon had the ball in the net with just over 10 minutes remaining though Jon Obika was ruled out for offside in the build-up despite replays showing the forward to be onside. 

The Buddies started brightly with a Cammy MacPherson free-kick on eight minutes deflecting just wide from range. Erhahon curled wide from the resulting corner, while Lee Erwin and Durmus both sent efforts over from distance. 

Saints continued to pressure with Brian Easton heading off his own bar on 22 minutes following a stramash in the Accies box. 

Richard Tait twice went close to grabbing the opener. The full-back struck the post with a low effort after a well-worked Saints move before forcing a really good save from Hamilton goalkeeper Ryan Fulton who has to stretch to his left to keep the header from creeping over the line. 

Despite having the best of the first-half, the Buddies almost found themselves behind in the dying moments of the first 45. A loose Marcus Fraser header across the St Mirren box was pounced upon by Anderson whose low drive had to be cleared by Fraser after the defender raced back onto the line.

Anderson really should have given the visitors the lead five minutes into the second-half when he was presented with free header six yards out. But somehow he nodded over. 

Then, within three minutes, St Mirren found the opener. Obika brilliantly brought the ball down in the Hamilton box before feeding it to Kyle McAllister on the edge of the area. The Saints number 10 shuffled the ball between his feet as he looked for an opportunity to get a strike away under pressure from the Accies defence. He eventually rolled the ball to the left where Durmus took one touch before cracking home into the far corner from 18 yards. 

It was the visitors who seemed galvanised by the goal as they put the Buddies under pressure. And that pressure would tell when Anderson's hit from just inside the St Mirren box deflected off Saints skipper Joe Shaughnessy to take it beyond Jak Alnwick to level.

With 15 minutes remaining the visitors looked like they would go in front when Marios Ogkmpoe was sent racing clear one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Alnwick was quick off his line to make a tremendous block to deny the Accies frontman. 

St Mirren should have been back in front on 79 minutes when Erhahon blasted home Obika's brilliant nod down, only for the far side linesman to flag for offside even though the Saints striker appearing to be on. It was a frustrating decision on what proved to be a frustrating night for Jim Goodwin's men. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 Hamilton Academical

JIM GOODWIN POST-MATCH REACTION

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy, Tait (Connolly 84), McAllister, MacPherson, Erhahon (Flynn 77), Durmus, Erwin, Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Urminsky, Finlayson, Henderson, Jamieson

Hamilton: Fulton, Hamilton, A. Martin (S. Martin 25), Easton, Hodson, Odoffin, Trafford (Hughes 81), McMann, Callachan, Anderson (Moyo 90), Ogkmpoe 
Subs Not Used: Gourlay, Stirling, Mimnaugh, Winter, Munro, Smith

Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane 
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Fourth Official: Steven Reid

Neither side could be separated at a blustery Pittodrie this afternoon as Saints drew 0-0 with Aberdeen. 

The windy conditions in the Granite City made it tough for each side with very few real opportunities throughout the 90 minutes as it ended in stalemate.

It was Saints who had the best chance of the match and it came early doors with Ryan Flynn going close to scoring his first goal in almost two years on eight minutes. The midfielder was in the right place inside the box to meet Ilkay Durmus' cross from the left. He got his foot to it only for Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis to instinctively block the side-footed effort at the near post. 

The wind was wreaking havoc at Pittodrie but it almost came to St Mirren's benefit on 21 minutes. It caught Durmus' free-kick from the right and forced Lewis to tip over the bar as it looked like it might sneak in. 

Chances were limited for both sides with a low Florian Kamberi strike from 30 yards, which was well held by Jak Alnwick, the best the home side had to show in the first-half. 

Saints were forced into a change at the break when Cammy MacPherson was introduced in place of the injured Jake Doyle-Hayes who is expected to have an x-ray later this evening to reveal the extent of the damage. 

The second-half followed the same sort of rhythm as the first with the wind not allowing either side to create many chances. Fraser Hornby curled a free-kick wide from 25 yards on 54 minutes, while substitute Jon Obika volleyed over from the edge of the box with 12 minutes remaining.

The Buddies were probing in the difficult conditions and did look the more likely as they searched for a winner in the last 10 minutes. Kyle McAllister's free-kick centrally from distance was straight down the throat of Lewis before the goalkeeper made tremendous stop to deny Obika at the far post after the Saints forward had met a MacPherson free-kick. It wouldn't have counted however as referee Euan Anderson deemed the ball came off the hand of the striker.

In the end a point was probably a fair result for both sides with Saints still in the hunt for a top six place.

Full-Time: Aberdeen 0-0 St Mirren

JIM GOODWIN REACTION

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Tait, Flynn, Doyle-Hayes (MacPherson 46), Erhahon, Durmus, Connolly (McAllister 76), Erwin (Obika 59)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Urminsky, Finlayson, Mason, Henderson, Jamieson

Aberdeen: Lewis, McCrorie, Hoban, Considine, Hayes, McGinn (McLennan 77), Campbell, Ferguson, Kennedy (Ross 85), Kamberi, Hornby (Hendry 77)
Subs Not Used: Woods, Logan, Taylor, McGeouch, Virtanen, MacKenzie

Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland
Assistant Referee: Joseph Lawson
Fourth Official: William Collum