St Mirren U18s secured their place in the last four of the Scottish Youth Cup after a penalty shoot-out victory over Queen's Park at Lochinch Sports Pavilion.
Grant Tamosevicius saved two from the spot, while Lyle Hunter, Owen Carey and Struan Thompson all scored to ensure a 3-2 victory on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time.
Queen's had the better of the early chances with Tamosevicius making a good block at his near post on 20 minutes.
But it was young Saints who would hit the front when Evan Mooney opened the scoring from the penalty spot. The forward, who had gone close just a few minutes before with a strike that was pushed away by the Queen's Park goalkeeper, was fouled in the box. The referee showed no hesitation in awarded the penalty and Mooney tucked it away to put the Buddies ahead on 34 minutes.
Queen's Park drew level three minutes before the interval when their number two scored from close range.
Saints stepped up the pace heading into the final portion of the match. A good ball across the face from Mooney found Theo McCormick, but the forward was under pressure from an opposing defender and he didn't get enough purchase on the effort which allowed the Queen's Park goalkeeper to gather comfortably.
Mooney almost turned provider on the 87 minute when another similar ball across from the right found Thompson who had nipped in at the near post. He got a touch on it that looked like it would be enough to score the goal that sent Saints through, only for the Queen's Park stopper to turn behind. Carrick McEvoy came agonisingly close to an injury-time winner when he cracked a powerful effort off the bar.
Penalties would be required with Tamosevicius saving Queen's Park's first spot-kick. McEvoy also saw his penalty saved by the Spiders' goalkeeper. Lyle Hunter would level it at 1-1 after Queen's Park went ahead in the shoot-out.
Tamosevicius saved again which allowed Owen Carey to put Saints 2-1 ahead after three penalties each. Queen's Park netted their fourth penalty with Thompson firing home with aplomb to keep Saints' advantage. That would turn out to be the winning spot-kick after Queen's Park fifth and final penalty rattled off the bar.
Full-Time: Queen's Park U18s 1-1 St Mirren U18s (St Mirren win 3-2 on penalties)
St Mirren U18s celebrate penalty shoot-out win (Image: Allan Picken)
St Mirren: Tamosevicius, Hutchison, McEvoy, Carey (c), Penman, Hunter, Turner (Stoddart 55), Falconer, Mooney, McCormick, Farquhar (Thompson 46)
