St Mirren B exited the SPFL Trust Trophy despite coming back from 2-0 down to force the game to penalties.
Niyah Joseph and Sean Fagan had the visitors in control at half-time. But goals from Matthew Turner and Ethan Sutherland took the game to spot kicks. Aiden Gilmartin and Gallagher Lennon saw their efforts saved for Saints, while Albion scored all four of theirs to progress.
The Buddies started brightly with Gilmartin knocking Callum Penman's deep cross just wide on 10 minutes, while Kieran Offord had a strike well saved by Rovers goalkeeper Ross Connelly six minutes later.
But it was the visitors who took the lead on 27 minutes when a Saints defender was robbed of possession by Callum Wilson deep in the Saints half. He slipped the ball through to Joseph who ran clear and slotted beyond Shay Kelly.
Rovers doubled their advantage on with four minutes of the first-half remaining when Fagan rose the highest to head home a second and leave the Buddies with it all to do.
There was a double change at the break as James Bolton and Stav Nahmani were replaced by Owen Foster and Carrick McEvoy.
Saints started the second-half sharper and took advantage of their bright start by pulling a goal back just six minutes after the break when Matthew Turner managed to prod home from close-range.
There was plenty of endeavour from the Buddies in the second-half, but it looked like Saints were heading for the exit when Andrew Gaffney curled wide in the final few minutes from the edge of the area.
But there was still time for drama when visitors were reduced to 10 men as Bright Prince was shown a second yellow card on 88 minutes. And within a minute, Saints made the man advantage count when Ethan Sutherland slammed home an equaliser to force the game to penalties.
The Buddies missed twice from the spot and the visitors netted all four of theirs to progress to the second round of the competition.
Ethan Sutherland celebrates his equaliser with Gallagher Lennon (Image: Allan Picken)
Full-Time: St Mirren B 2-2 Albion Rovers (Albion Rovers win 4-2 on penalties)
St Mirren B: Kelly, Kenny, Bolton (Foster 46), Lennon, Penman, Turner, Gaffney, Sutherland, Offord (Keegan 84), Nahmani (McEvoy 46), Gilmartin
Subs Not Used: McLelland, Porter, Grady, Sambi
Albion Rovers: Connelly, Fernie, Fagan, Wilson, McMahon, Joseph, McCaw, Duncan, Paterson (Henderson 86), Tran, Prince
Subs Not Used: Semirimu, Bevan, Walker, McMeneny
Attendance: 363
