St Mirren B will meet Dumbarton in the Second Round of the SPFL Trust Trophy after victory away to Berwick Rangers.
The Young Buddies ran rampant in the opening period, going 3-0 ahead inside just 14 minutes against the Lowland League side. But Saints failed to extend their lead despite a number of chances and had to hold strong in the second-half after Berwick pulled two goals back.
Saints hit the front early when Ethan Sutherland volleyed home from 12 yards after meeting a perfect Fraser Taylor corner. That was the first of three goals in a blistering seven minute spell.
Evan Mooney added the second just three minutes after the opener when he stole in ahead of the Berwick defence and knocked beyond Calum Antell.
Mooney's strike partner Theo McCormick made it 3-0 on 14 minutes when he was the recipient of a poor back pass from Alfie Robinson and the forward was able to knock into the net from close-range.
The Young Saints were rampant and could have further extended the lead before the half hour mark. Matthew Turner was inches away from making it four on 21 minutes when he lifted the ball over the goalkeeper but saw it drift agonisingly wide. Mooney was next to go close for the Young Saints when he met a Sutherland cross at the back post, but from an angle he saw his shot pushed away by Antell. Sutherland nearly added his second and Saints' fourth but the Berwick goalkeeper managed to push the effort on to the bar before the defence cleared.
Despite the dominance, Berwick Rangers pulled a goal back with less than 10 minutes to go before the end of the half. Shay Kelly saved the initial effort before substitute Cai MacNamara knocked home.
Berwick reduced the deficit further five minutes after the restart when Jonathan Devers' deflected shot from the edge of the area looped over Kelly.
Max McGinley came inches away from levelling for the Wee Gers when his long-range hit flew just by the post after the hour mark. Lewis Barr had the ball in the net with just over 20 minutes to go but the offside flag was raised to deny the hosts an equaliser.
Luke Kenny could have put the game to bed on 83 minutes when he got his head on a Taylor corner, only to knock it over. Taylor himself almost added a fourth a minute after when his powerful strike was pushed away from the top corner by Antell who got two strong hands behind it.
The Young Saints will meet William Hill League One side Dumbarton at The Marbill Coaches Stadium in the Second Round with the match due to take place in the midweek of 13/14th August.
Full-Time: Berwick Rangers 2-3 St Mirren B
St Mirren B: Kelly, Penman, Kenny (c), Foster, Lennon, Sutherland, Turner, Taylor, Hunter, Mooney, McCormick (Farquhar 77)
Subs: Carey, Mcavoy, Thompson, Marshall, Hutchison
Berwick Rangers: Antell, McGinley, Fellows, Robinson, McCormack, Nelson, Collins, Buchanan, Laidlaw (MacNamara 31), Devers, Barr
Subs: Kay, Carr Brown, Armstrong
