St Mirren moved up to eighth place in the Ladbrokes Championship with a stunning 4-1 derby win at Cappielow.
The Buddies boosted their hopes of survival with goals from Stelios Demetriou, Stevie Mallan, John Sutton and Gary MacKenzie taking the Saints out of the relegation play-off spot with just four matches remaining.
The best early chance for either side came on 18 minutes when Rory Loy robbed Michael Doyle of the ball around 20 yards out and drove into the box. He drilled the ball across the face of goal with both Kyle Magennis and Sutton sliding in with neither able to get the touch that would have saw it nestle in the back of the net.
But it was a mere delay when Mallan's excellent first time pass found Stelios marauding down the left side side. The Cypriot skilfully checked in away from Doyle before lashing the ball from just inside the box beyond Derek Gaston. It sent the fans in the Wee Dublin End wild with chants of Super Stelios ringing throughout.
But Saints couldn't build on it as the hosts equalised less than 10 minutes later after a lightening quick counter attack. Aidan Nesbitt slipped the ball through for Doyle who broke down the right flank. The defender picked out Andy Murdoch who arrived in the ball late to guide the ball beyond Billy O'Brien to draw level.
The home side's tails were up and they grew in stature, going close to scoring a second soon after their equaliser. O'Brien's poor clearance along the deck was picked up by Nesbitt who found Gary Oliver. The striker did well to find Lawrence Shankland but the ex-Saint couldn't connect with it properly with Jack Baird in close situ to shepherd it out for a corner.
Stelios should have scored his and St Mirren's second after breaking clear just before half time. The left back was picked out by Smith and raced through, beating Mark Russell to the ball before switching the ball to his other foot as he got into a shooting position only to see his effort deflected over the bar. It would have been the perfect end to the first half
Half Time: Morton 1-1 St Mirren
While Saints missed the opportunity to end the first half ahead they made amends with the best possible start after the interval. Mallan picked up after a neat touch from Stephen McGinn who did well to hold off his marker. The midfielder didn't need to think about it as he leathered the ball first time from 25 yards out into the far corner of the net. It was a stunning hit from the 21 year-old who has made a habit of scoring special goals.
And from that point on Saints controlled the match. John Sutton, making his 100th start for the Buddies, looked to put the game to bed soon after when he scored his 43rd St Mirren goal. It was Cammy Smith who won the ball in midfield, charging forward before finding Loy on the left hand side. The striker took one touch to open up space and then sent the ball across the face of goal where all Sutton had to do was get his toe on it. And get his toe on it he did with Saints opening up a two goal cushion with over half an hour still to play.
There was still plenty of time for it to go either way but in truth Saints were well on top for the rest of the game. The Morton support were certain they had halved the deficit just moments after Sutton's goal. O'Brien couldn't get his hand on a ball across from Mark Russell on the left which was swung back in from the right straight to the head of Oliver whose looping header was saved by the goalkeeper on the line.
Saints added some gloss to the score line with 10 minutes remaining. Good work from Magennis on the right side won the Buddies a corner. Mallan swung it in where Gary MacKenzie towered above Gaston, and the rest of the Morton defence, to bullet home. It was no less than the Buddies deserved after bossing the game for large spells.
And with the full time whistle came St Mirren's first derby win of the season - a win that sees Jack Ross' side move off the relegation play-off spot and give the club a huge chance of survival with just four games remaining.
Full Time: Morton 1-4 St Mirren
St Mirren: O'Brien, Irvine, Baird, MacKenzie, Stelios, Magennis, Mallan (Quinn 90), McGinn, Smith (Todd 88), Loy (Storie 84), Sutton
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Gordon, Fjelde, Whyte
Morton: Gaston, Lamie, O'Ware, Doyle, Oliver, Forbes, Lindsay (Tidser 75), Nesbitt, Russell, Murdoch, Shankland (Donnelly 88)
Subs Not Used: McGowan, Kilday, Oyenuga, Scullion, McDonagh,
Referee: Stephen Finnie
Assistant Referee: Graham Chambers
Assistant Referee: Colin McAlpine
Attendance: 4,609
Match report pictures by Allan Picken - © Allan Picken Photography and John Millar - © millarpictures
