St Mirren extended their lead at the top of the Ladbrokes Championship to eight points after a well deserved win over Dumbarton at The Your Radio 103FM Stadium.
Second half goals from Cammy Smith and captain Stephen McGinn, who was making his 100th St Mirren start, were enough to earn The Buddies all three points.
Saints started the match strongly winning the first corner of the match on four minutes. The ball in was cleared only as far as Liam Smith who drilled towards goal. It fell to Cammy Smith who looked to wriggle into space to get a shot away but the forward was crowded out by the Dumbarton defence.
The Buddies had the ball in the net on six minutes when Kyle Magennis rolled home Gavin Reilly's cutback. But the linesman had ruled that the striker had taken the ball out of play before playing across to Magennis.
St Mirren had started brightly and went close to taking the lead on 11 minutes through Lewis Morgan only to be thwarted by one of Dumbarton's five ex-Saints. Cammy Smith found Morgan on the left with a wonderful pass and the winger got the shot away only to be denied by goalkeeper Scott Gallacher who made a fine block.
Dumbarton reminded Saints they were still in the match when Tom Walsh sent a long range effort by the post.
But it was still The Buddies who were in control and they should have opened the scoring just before the half hour mark. Reilly profited from a break of the ball in the middle of the park and raced clear on goal. However, the striker couldn't add to his 20 goals this season as he shot agonisingly wide of the far post. Reilly went close again five minutes later when he was found inside the box by Stelios, but he clipped wide.
Ex-Saint Tom Walsh, who scored the winner the last time these two sides met, had the last chance of the half after escaped from Liam Smith. But the winger shot straight at Samson who gathered with ease.
Half Time: Dumbarton 0-0 St Mirren
St Mirren had been the team on top in the first half and wasted little time after the break in making their dominance pay.
On 47 minutes Ian McShane played the ball wide to Stelios who burst forward on the left. The Cypriot put the ball into a good area for Cammy Smith who only had to ensure he got a touch on it to nod beyond Gallacher to put St Mirren 1-0 in front.
Saints were cleared buoyed by the goal and were playing some great football. Lewis Morgan went on a good run which resulted in his shot being deflected by for a corner. Kyle Magennis whipped in a delightful ball but there were no takers. Stelios did well to find Reilly in the box five minutes later but the striker screwed the shot wide of the target.
The Buddies' good play would be rewarded with a second goal just before the hour mark and how fitting it was for the captain to score on his 100th start in St Mirren colours. A corner from Magennis found Reilly who had a shot blocked. It found its way to McGinn who coolly stroked the ball into the far corner to double Saints' advantage.
The second goal killed the game as a contest. Saints would have chances to further their lead with Magennis almost grabbing his first of the season when he forced Gallacher to push away his strong free kick.
Dumbarton had a few half chances with a long range effort from Alistair Roy and a Walsh snapshot. But in the end Saints were worthy winners and extend their lead at the top to eight points following Dundee United's draw away to Dunfermline.
St Mirren: Samson, L.Smith, Baird, Davis, Stelios, McShane, McGinn, Morgan, C.Smith (Sutton 87), Magennis, Reilly (Mullen 61)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Irvine, MacKenzie, Erhahon, Flanagan
Dumbarton: Gallacher, Smith, Dowie, Dick, Barr, Gallagher (Russell 59), Hutton, Carswell, Handling (Roy 60), Walsh, Nade
Subs Not Used: Ewings, Wilson, Johnston, Hill
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Steven Strang
Attendance: 1652
Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography
