St Mirren's Betfred Cup campaign ended with a morale boosting win over Airdrieonians at the Paisley 2021 Stadium this afternoon.
Jack Ross' side were dominant throughout the 90 minutes, putting five beyond the Diamonds as they gear up for the Ladbrokes Championship opening day fixture against Falkirk next week.
Saints were ahead just nine minutes in as a Stelios cross was turned into the net. Cammy Smith was credited with the goal but it appeared to come off Airdrie's Kieran MacDonald, leaving Rohan Ferguson helpless in the visitors' goal. Nevertheless it gave the side an early lead from which to build upon.
The Buddies could have been two to the good a little over five minutes later. A short freekick was worked wide to Jack Baird whose attempted cross was knocked out for a corner. Ian McShane pinged the ball into the penalty spot where Gary MacKenzie leaped above the Diamonds' defence to bullet just wide of the mark.
The home side had to be alert when an excellent ball in from Cameron Russell was headed wide by Stelios with John Higgins waiting to pounce at the back post. From the corner, Saints cleared to Lewis Morgan who broke forward at speed before seeing his effort from the edge of the box blocked.
Saints were on top and a succession of corners first saw McShane having a shot pushed wide by Ferguson, before the Airdrie keeper made a brilliant save to deny Jack Baird.
St Mirren's dominance was to pay dividends when Gavin Reilly made it 2-0 on the half hour mark. Stephen McGinn expertly picked out John Sutton with a beautifully weighted ball into the box which the experienced striker cushioned on to Reilly. The 24 year-old didn't need a second invitation as he fired high into the top of the net to double the Buddies' advantage.
Half Time: St Mirren 2-0 Airdrieonians
The visitors spurned a glorious to reduce the deficit early in the second half when they were awarded a penalty. MacKenzie was booked for his protests after he was adjudged to have pulled down Dean Cairns from a corner kick. Andy Ryan stepped up but sent the spot kick wide of the target.
Saints would also miss a penalty after substitute Ross Stewart was fouled inside the box around 15 minutes later. Reilly stepped up looking to net his second of the afternoon but his effort was tame and easily saved by Ferguson.
The striker would quickly make amends though. He was on the end of a cross from Morgan with his header hitting the post before creeping over the line to put the game to bed.
He could have had the match ball less than 60 seconds later as he found himself in good space before his attempt was pushed wide by Ferguson.
The game was over as a contest but there was a clean sheet to be kept for Craig Samson. He made a series of good stops in a busy two minute spell. First he denied David Brownlie with a fine save, tipping the header over the bar. From the resultant corner he made another excellent stop from Ryan's header before blocking Murray Loudon's far post volley.
And not only was there a clean sheet to be kept, but Saints were hungry for more goals with Morgan getting in on the act. The 20 year-old winger scored a fine angled effort after latching on to a ball over the top from McShane, rifling into the far corner beyond Ferguson.
Stewart thought he had netted when he followed up Morgan's saved effort minutes later but the linesman's flag was raised to deny the striker a first goal at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.
There would be a fifth though as Smith scored on 89 minutes. There was to be no argument about this one as the forward broke into the box and smashed it home to make it 5-0.
It may have meant little in terms of the Betfred Cup, but the emphatic win gives Saints a boost heading into next week's curtain raiser in the Ladbrokes Championship.
Full Time: St Mirren 5-0 Airdrieonians
St Mirren: Samson, Irvine, Baird, MacKenzie (Buchanan 68), Stelios, Smith, McShane, McGinn, Morgan, Sutton (Stewart 65), Reilly (Kirkpatrick 75)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Horne, Whyte, Morrison
Airdrieonians: Ferguson, S. Stewart, MacDonald, McIntosh, Cairns, Brownline, Higgins, Conroy, Ryan, Russell (Loudon 45), Brown (Thomson 77)
Subs Not Used: Kerr, McLaughlin, Leighton
Referee: Craig Napier
Assistant Referee: Jordan Stokoe
Assistant Referee: Daniel Graves
Attendance: 1,557
Match Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography
