Scottish Cup: St Mirren U19s 3-0 Hibernian U19s
A slick performance by St Mirren helped see the Paisley side stroll past Hibernian and into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup, writes Matthew Harold at St Mirren Park.
A first half goal from Mark Lamont, followed up by a Thomas Reilly penalty and a Jack Smith strike saw David Longmuir’s side comfortably by their Edinburgh opponents.
The visitors had the first chance of the game as Jack Verth headed towards goal, but his effort was well saved by Michael McKinven in the St Mirren goal.
From then on it was all St Mirren and they opened the scoring when Smith flicked the ball into the path of Reilly on the left wing and he put in a superb cross that was met at the back post by Lamont, who drilled the beyond Paul Grant and into the back of the Hibs goal.
Hibernian failed to make an impression on the St Mirren goal for the reminder of the half, with striker Ross Caldwell, just 24 hours removed from his cameo role for Pat Fenlon’s side against Rangers failing to find the spark the visitors needed to get back level going into the break.
Barely a minute had gone in the second half, when St Mirren were handed a golden opportunity to double their advantage, as Reilly received the ball on the left, reaching the by-line, before cutting inside, only to be brought down inside the box.
The St Mirren striker then dusted himself down and fired the ball beyond the Grant from the penalty spot to give the Buddies a two goal lead.
Ten minutes into the half the home side sealed the victory as Jason Naismith raced down the left, before crossing for Smith, the son of former Airdrie striker Andy Smith, who neatly guided the ball past Grant and into the back of the net.
With his side three goals down and heading out of the cup, Hibernian coach James McDonaugh decided to go for broke as he brought on Euan Smith as they moved to a front three, to try in a desperate attempt to salvage the tie.
But the visitors couldn’t find a way past the impressive McKinven, with Hibs having three attempts in less in a minute, with both the St Mirren defence and their goalkeeper getting in the way before the ball smacked off the bar from Danny Handling, much to the relief of the home side.
Dean Horribine was next to see his effort saved by McKinven, as his strike from the left hand side of the area was tipped onto the bar by the St Mirren stopper and out for a corner to the visitors.
The final chance of the game came to Lamont, as he took a corner from the left wing, which helped by the wind cannoned off of Grant’s bar and fortunately for the visiting keeper went out of play for a goal kick.
St Mirren U19: McKinven, Meechan, Cole (Cairns), Owens, Kelly, Naismith, Lamont, Hughes, Reilly, Smith (McGinn), Brady (Fulton)
Subs Not Used: Donald, Burns
Hibernian U19: Grant, Doris, Stanton, Monaghan (Lancaster), Forster, Verth, Horribine, Gold (Harris), Caldwell, Handling, Donaldson (Smith)
Subs Not Used: Horne, Addison
Man of the Match: Thomas Reilly (St Mirren U19)
Referee: Craig Napier
