St Mirren's hopes of emulating last season's run to the IRN-BRU Cup final were ended as they fell to defeat at the hands of Raith Rovers.
Saints had dominated for the first hour or so and took a well deserved lead through Gavin Reilly. But goals from Lewis Vaughan, Greig Spence and Bobby Barr saw the Buddies knocked out by the League One side.
Jack Ross made seven changes to the side that defeated Brechin last weekend. In came both Ross Stewarts, Gary Irvine, Adam Eckersley, Gregor Buchanan, Dale Hilson and 16 year-old Ethan Erhahon in place of Craig Samson, Liam Smith, McCart, Stephen McGinn, Jordan Kirkpatrick, Cammy Smith and Morgan.
It was a quiet opening with neither side creating many chances in the first part of the match. The first real opportunity to open the scoring came for the visitors on 22 minutes and they really should have been ahead.
After a Jack Baird header was blocked from an Ian McShane corner, the visitors broke up the park and won their own corner when Barr's shot was deflected behind. It was swung in deep to the back post where it was met by the head of John Herron. His effort was palmed away by Ross Stewart but fell invitingly for Greig Spence who somehow stuck it over the bar from just a few yards out.
Saints were having the best of the territory and their first big chance of the half came on 28 minutes when Dale Hilson unleashed a shot from 25 yards with strong hands from Graeme Smith pushing it away.
The Buddies went close again with Smith doing well to deny Gary Irvine his first ever St Mirren goal on 36 minutes. The ball was laid off to the right back by Gavin Reilly and he cracked a fierce attempt from the edge of the area which the goalkeeper had to push over.
After a bit of a flat start the Buddies, who had been dominating possession, were beginning to look livelier and had another chance soon after. A deep corner found Ross Stewart at the back stick with the striker cracking the outside of the post.
Gavin Reilly drew an excellent save from Raith keeper Smith a few minutes before half time. A neat exchange of passes saw the striker found inside the box with the visiting goalie getting his fingertips on it to push wide.
The crowd were urging the side on before half-time and the breakthrough goal almost came just before the half-time whistle. Jack Baird rose above the visiting defence to power a header off the bar.
Half Time: St Mirren 0-0 Raith Rovers
Saints started the second half on top, forcing a number of corners but failing to make their dominance of possession count. The Buddies were pressuring the League One leaders with Gregor Buchanan and Ross Stewart both seeing efforts block from a corner before Stelios fired wide.
But Saints would finally make the breakthrough on 63 minutes. Dale Hilson's neat ball across the face of goal was weighted beautifully for Reilly who tapped home from a few yards out to score his ninth goal of the season and give Saints a deserved lead.
But they couldn't make it count with Raith levelling less than a minute later thanks to a lovely strike from Lewis Vaughan on the edge of the box.
Things got worse for Saints as the visitors took the lead nine minutes later through Spence. A nice ball into the box was met by an equally good cushioned header by Vaughan into the path of Spence who found himself in plenty of space to stab the ball beyond Ross Stewart to give the League One side the advantage.
Saints misery was compounded on 81 minutes as Raith stretched their lead. Bobby Barr was picked out on the edge of the area and he curled it beautifully beyond Ross Stewart to give the visitors a two goal advantage.
In the end Saints couldn't muster anything to get themselves back into the match and defeat sees the Buddies fall out of the competition at the last 16 stage while ending their record breaking run of form at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.
Full Time: St Mirren 1-3 Raith Rovers
St Mirren: Stewart, Baird, Buchanan (C.Smith 75), Eckersley, Irvine (MacPherson 56), McShane, Erhahon, Stelios, Hilson, Stewart, Reilly (Duffy 75)
Subs Not Used: Samson, McGinn, Kirkpatrick, Sutton
Raith Rovers: G. Smith, Thomson, Herron, Murray, Watson, Spence (Court 90), Berry, Vaughan, Barr, Matthews, McKay
Subs Not Used: Brian, Opoku-Berchie, Valentine, J.Smith, Stevenson, Bell
Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Jordon Stokoe
Assistant Referee: Kylie Cockburn
Fourth Official: Mike Roncone
Attendance: 1,970
Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography
