Saints cruised into the fourth round of the Scottish Cup this evening with a comfortable and confidence boosting win over Spartans.
The first half was more like a goal of the season competition for the Buddies. Lawrence Shankland scored with a tremendous shot after being set up by Kyle McAllister before Stevie Mallan curled one in from 25 yards. The third saw McAllister open his first team account, beating three Spartans defenders before cracking home a shot from the edge of the box.
The goals after the break weren't quite as spectacular but just as effective. John Sutton netted after Kyle Magennis' shot had been saved before Shankland got his second with a cool finish. The only blot on the copybook came when Jack Beesley pulled one back for the visitors but it was a minor bump on the road as Saints set up a trip to Dundee in the New Year.
Shankland was back in the team at the expense of David Clarkson, who dropped to the bench, while Gary MacKenzie started in defence in place of Jack Baird. He was on the bench and he was joined by the fit-again Rocco Quinn and youngster Kalvin Orsi. There was a familiar face in the Spartans team with former Buddie Eddie Malone starting for the visitors.
Sutton played for Saints the last time the two sides met more than a decade ago and he had the first chance after a few minutes, bringing the ball down before firing over from the edge of the box. After McAllister failed to find the target with a few long range efforts, he fared rather better when he turned provider. Shankland brilliantly controlled the young winger's pass on his chest before lashing the ball into the top corner, giving goalie Blair Carswell no chance.
Saints had dominated the opening exchanges and it didn't take long for them to double their lead in equally spectacular style. Jason Naismith's cross was only cleared as far as Mallan and the midfielder took a touch before curling a low shot past Carswell from 20 yards. It should perhaps have been three a few minutes after the restart, however Lewis Morgan's tame shot with his weaker right foot was no problem for Carswell.
It was McAllister's turn to add his name to the scoresheet with little more than half an hour played. A rare Spartans foray forward ended when Alan Brown's shot was blocked by his own team-mate. As they tried to recover, McAllister picked up the ball and charged past three defenders before unleashing a thunderbolt from the edge of the box that flew into the net via the underside of the bar. It was the youngster's first senior goal and fully deserved.
There was little let-up from the hosts, a short corner ending with Mallan curling a shot wide and early in the second half Sutton shot straight at Carswell after good work from Mallan. Spartans had introduced Scott Maxwell at the break and were getting into the final third a bit more, a promising attack ending when Brown shot over from 20 yards. They went even closer when Scott Gallacher, who'd had little to do, charged out of his goal to try to get to the ball and was only able to watch as Paul Thomson lifted it over his head, however Ben Gordon was on hand to clear that and the follow-up effort from Brown off the line.
Saints were producing some nice passing stuff, McAllister just unable to find Sutton before a sweeping move resulted in Mallan testing Carswell. That was swiftly followed by Quinn making a welcome return from injury as he replaced Gordon. His first involvement was to watch as Mallan took a free-kick that would have had Carswell worried had it not clipped the wall.
It merely delayed the inevitable as Saints added the fourth just after the hour mark. A few shots were blocked before Kyle Magennis got in a fierce effort that Carswell did well to stop, however the ball bounced up perfectly for Sutton to nod home. The goal also spelled the end of MacKenzie's night as he was replaced by Baird.
Sutton was involved again when Saints notched up their fifth, flicking the ball on for Shankland who strolled away from the Spartans defence before coolly finishing past Carswell. The on-loan forward was unlucky not to complete his hat-trick moment later as another ball over the top caught out the Spartans defence. Shankland tried to round Carswell but the keeper got just enough on the ball to divert it back onto the striker with enough pace that it then bounced behind.
The home defence had had little to do all evening but the chance of a rare clean sheet vanished with less than 20 minutes left. Gallacher did well to save the initial shot from Jamie Dishington but could do little as sub Jack Beesley netted the rebound to give the visitors some consolation. However, the five goal lead could have been restored almost immediately, Morgan picking out Sutton with a great cross but Carswell saved the header, the Englishman then making way so that Orsi could make his senior debut.
Spartans almost pulled another one back when the ball broke kindly for Brown at the edge of the box but he shot over before Carswell pulled off a tremendous save to deny Magennis, who almost claimed an assist in stoppage time when Orsi headed wide from his cross.
St Mirren: Gallacher, Naismith, Gordon (Quinn, 59), MacKenzie (Baird, 63), Irvine, McAllister, Mallan, Magennis, Morgan, Sutton (Orsi, 82), Shankland
Subs Not Used: Langfield, McLear, Gallagher, Clarkson
Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Townsley, Tolmie (Salutregi, 74), Thomson, Malone, Brown, Stevenson, Mair, (Maxwell, 45) Hay (Beesley, 63), Dishington
Subs Not Used: Gilpin, Watson, Ward, Comrie
Referee: Kevin Graham
Assistant Referee: Stephen Mitchell
Assistant Referee: Ross Hardie
Attendance: 1,147
Match report pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography.
Match Gallery Pictures by John Millar - © millarpictures
