St Mirren made it five home wins in a row for the first time since they moved into the Paisley 2021 Stadium as they defeated Hearts Colts in the IRN-BRU Cup.
Gavin Reilly scored either side of half-time to put Saints in firmly in control before Rory Currie snatched a late goal for the young Jambos. Substitute John Sutton put the game to bed just a few moments later to secure St Mirren's place in Tuesday's third round draw.
The Buddies got off to a flying start with ex-Hearts man Reilly opening the scoring on eight minutes. It was a fine finish from the ex-Hearts man as he curled the ball beautifully beyond Kelby Mason from the edge of box after a neat passage of play.
Saints were on top and could have had a second when debutant Dale Hilson found Conor O'Keefe in space on the left side. The young winger, making his first Saints start, steadied himself for the shot before hitting it straight into the arms of Mason.
The Hearts goalkeeper did well to deny Reilly in similar circumstances not long after, holding the striker's low drive on 20 minutes.
It was then the turn of Saints keeper Ross Stewart to be put to work as he tipped Hearts skipper Angus Beith's powerful effort from outside the box over the bar.
In truth though, that Beith chance aside, the Buddies dominated the first half and Reilly will feel he should have had his second before he did. On 33 minutes, Hilson did brilliantly well to pull down Gregor Buchanan's cross-field pass and keep it in play on the left touchline. He raced into the box, seeing an attempt from the angle blocked by Mason. The ball fell invitingly for Reilly with it ready to be passed into the back of the net, but he somehow managed to put it over.
A quick move just before half time could have almost got Hearts level heading into the break. Currie played the ball to Callum Morrison who whipped a dangerous looking ball into the Saints box with Lewis Moore just failing to get on the end of it.
Half Time: St Mirren 1-0 Hearts Colts
The Buddies doubled their lead soon after the interval when Reilly grabbed his and Saints' second. Just as was the case in the win over Dundee United last week, it was the perfect start to the second period as the striker burst on to a neat through ball from captain Stephen McGinn and lashed it home for his eighth St Mirren goal.
Hearts Colts tried to find a way back into the match and were lucky still to be in the contest when Ian McShane swung a free-kick just by the right hand post on the hour.
A third goal would have surely killed off the match, but this young Jambos side were a determined bunch. Again Beith who went close to getting on the scoresheet for the visitors with the captain curling a shot just wide after being laid off by Currie.
They would get the goal they craved with just under 10 minutes of the match to go. Substitute Aidan Keena found himself in good space in the box only to have his attempt deflected by for a corner. The Buddies failed to deal with the set piece with Keena flinging the ball back into the danger area. It came off the leg of Jack Baird and landed in the path of Currie who managed to put the ball into the back of the net.
But any hopes of a comeback were dashed for the visitors when John Sutton added a third for Saints on 83 minutes. This time Reilly turned provider as he clipped the ball from the byline into the six-yard box to meet the head of Sutton who nodded home.
Both sides had chances in the final few moments with Ross Stewart saving well with his feet to deny Jamie Brandon and Gavin Reilly seeing a shot inside the box blocked as he seemed set to grab a hat-tick.
In the end it was a fine effort from a young Hearts side, but it's Saints who deservedly progress into the next round of the cup.
Full Time: St Mirren 3-1 Hearts Colts
St Mirren: Stewart, Stelios, Baird, Buchanan, Eckersley, McGinn, McShane (Sutton 71), Hilson (Stewart 54), Smith, O'Keefe (Kirkpatrick 61), Reilly
Subs Not Used: Samson, Whyte, Erhahon, Duffy
Hearts Colts: Mason, Brandon, Sandison, B. Gadja, Hamilton, Petkov (Cochrane 88), Morrison, Beith, Currie, Paton (Keena 49), Moore
Subs Not Used: W.Gadja, Irving, Reid, Ritchie
Referee: Craig Charleston
Assistant Referee: John McCrossan
Assistant Referee: Iain Snedden
Attendance: 1,130
