St Mirren have gone top of the Ladbrokes Championship after coming out on top in a pulsating match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Five goals in an incredible 13 minute spell in the second half saw the Buddies run out 4-2 winners at the Paisley 2021 Stadium to move above Dunfermline and Queen of the South into first place.
Lewis Morgan gave Saints the lead heading into half-time before a quite unbelievable 13 minutes of play saw Caley Thistle level, Saints take the lead again, Caley Thistle equalise for a second time and St Mirren score twice more to seal a huge victory.
It could have been a different afternoon had John Baird's early strike counted. Iain Vigurs bursting forward inside the first minute found Riccardo Calder in acres of space on the left hand side. The winger drove on before sending the ball across the face of goal to striker Baird who knocked it home from just a few yards out. But just as he wheeled away to celebrate he was met by the linesman's offside flag.
The Buddies grew into the match and almost went ahead on 15 minutes through captain Stephen McGinn. Ian McShane's short corner was worked towards McGinn who jinxed one way and then another before having a go from the edge of the box. The skipper wasn't far away with ex-St Mirren goalkeeper Mark Ridgers doing well to palm the ball over the bar.
Saints were aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty on the 20 minute mark when Gregor Buchanan went down under the challenge of Brad McKay. Referee Willie Collum, who awarded Morton two penalties when the Buddies played them last month, awarded St Mirren a corner only. From the resultant corner Jack Baird nodded wide.
St Mirren took the lead just after the half hour mark after an excellent counter. McGinn took the ball by two Inverness players just inside his own box before feeding the ball to Gavin Reilly. The striker played a wonderful first time pass to Lewis Morgan who sped forward. Morgan cut into the box, shifting the ball to his left foot and deceiving Ridgers with the low effort that went under the goalkeepers legs with the aid of a deflection off Brad McKay.
It was first blood Saints who were almost two to the good just a few moments later when Morgan again broke at speed. He moved into the box and fired an effort towards the far right corner only for Ridgers to do brilliantly well to flick it by the post.
Half Time: St Mirren 1-0 Inverness CT
The away side started the second half the brighter of the two sides with three good chances to equalise inside the first five minutes.
First, Liam Polworth send one just wide of the post after slack play from Jack Baird in the centre of the park. The defender's touch was heavy at the half way line and conceded possession to away side who broke forward. Polworth was picked out on the left hand side before sending his shot just wide of Samson's right hand post.
A few moments later it was John Baird's turn with his effort from the right going just by the post also, before ex-Saint Alex Cooper nodded wide.
The visitors were level though after a manic minute on the hour mark. Polworth should have scored when he found himself one-on-one with Samson only for the keeper to make a good block with his feet. Saints countered quickly with Cammy Smith sending a shot over the bar after picking up the ball following Ridgers' save from Morgan. It really was a terrific chance for St Mirren to double their lead, but they would rue that miss when John Baird levelled from Caley's own counter. Polworth slotted the ball through to Baird who broke through the Buddies defence to coolly slot the ball beyond Samson.
That manic minute foreshadowed what was to be the most incredible 10 minutes or so of football.
Just two minutes after the Caley Jags had gotten themselves on level terms, the Buddies were back in front. McShane twisted and turned to beat Charlie Trafford before standing up a cross to the back post. Gregor Buchanan rose the highest to nod the ball down which Ridgers failed to gather. Just as it looked to creep over the line Gavin Reilly made sure, putting Saints ahead for the second time.
But Inverness were level again three minutes later when Polworth turned from provider to scorer. The midfielder had got in front of the defence and ran through on goal before rounding Samson and sending the ball into the empty net. The offside flag was raised, only for Willie Collum to deem that the ball had taken a nick of a Saints player on its way through to the midfielder meaning the goal
St Mirren showed brilliant character after that setback though and looked to go in front for a third time as quickly as possible. And they almost did less than a minute after Caley's second equaliser when Morgan burst through and cracked the post with a powerful drive.
Saints wouldn't be waiting too long for that third goal as Cammy Smith scored his fifth goal of the season on 73 minutes. Reilly had an effort blocked on the edge of the box with the ball falling invitingly for Smith. The forward didn't need a second invitation to drill the ball beyond Ridgers.
And there would be no let up from the Buddies as McShane curled home his second St Mirren goal from 18 yards just a minute later to give Saints a two goal cushion.
That would be that as Saints closed out the game for a record sixth home win in a row at the Paisley 2021 Stadium to end the evening top of the pile.
Full Time: St Mirren 4-2 Inverness CT
St Mirren: Samson, Baird, Buchanan, Eckersley, Irvine, McGinn, McShane, Stelios (Kirkpatrick 85), Morgan (Duffy 90), C.Smith (Todd 87), Reilly
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Whyte, Stewart, Sutton,
Inverness: Ridgers, Raven, Chalmers, Warren, McKay, Polworth, Vigurs, Calder (Bell 56), Trafford, Cooper, Baird
Subs Not Used: Esson, Tremarco, Elsdon, Oakley, Mulraney, Donaldson
Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Paul O'Neill
Assistant Referee: Mark McHendry
Attendance: 3,610
