Brilliant Buddies were on top form
trying to pick his spot, but his strike flew narrowly wide of Samson’s right-hand post.
Former Saints midfielder Kyle Hutton then drew the ire of the visiting support and the referee for a late sliding challenge on McGinn, resulting in a yellow card for the now-Sons man.
Hutton then fired over the bar from a Tom Walsh corner as the half-hour approached, before Saints raced up the other end through Gavin Reilly, but, again, Gallacher in goal was on hand to save.
But the deadlock was finally broken in 36 minutes, and deservedly so in favour of the Buddies.
As in the first minute, McGinn released Eckersley on the left flank. The Englishman took a touch before swinging over an inch-perfect cross and there was Gavin Reilly to head home his 10th goal of the campaign.
Reilly came within the fingertips of Gallacher to extending the advantage of the stroke of half-time with a fine curled effort that appeared destined for the top corner.
Saints had a shout for a penalty from the resulting corner, with Gregor Buchanan going down inside the box, but ref Alan Newlands was having none of it as he blew for half-time.
St Mirren came out of the traps slowly Star Saint: Ian McShane One of his best perfomances in a Saints shirt, the midfielder dictated the tempo and never misplaced a pass throughout the 90 minutes. Honourable mention for Adam Eckerlsey, who was superb going forward. Match Facts
Score - Dumbarton 0 St Mirren 2 Scorers - Reilly (36), Sutton (70) Bookings - Hutton (28) Red carded - No-one Referee - Alan Newland Attendance - 1,178 Teams: Dumbarton Gallacher, Wardrop, McLaughlin, Dowie, Barr, Wilson, Hutton, Walsh (Johnston 84), Froxylias, Nade (Roy 75), Stewart (Morrison 75). Subs not used: Ewings, Prior, Smith and Gallagher. St Mirren Samson, L Smith, Eckersley, Baird, Buchanan, McGinn, McShane, Stewart (Sutton 55), C Smith, Morgan (Magennis 84), Reilly (Demetriou 87). Subs not used: R Stewart, MacPherson, Duffy and Kirkpatrick. in the second half and could have found themselves pegged back within a minute, but Walsh found his composure wanting as he blazed over after being set up by Christian Nade.
Mark Stewart then spurned another glorious opportunity, firing low and straight at Samson after seizing upon Baird’s poor clearance.
St Mirren eventually sprung back into life 10 minutes into the half with a free kick from the edge of the box after Hutton hauled down Reilly.
McShane’s free-kick appeared to catch the defence out, clipping Stewart on its way to goal, but Buchanan failed to find the crucial touch to take it past Gallacher in goal.
The chances continued to flow in what was sure to be a fantastic game for the neutral, with Lewis Morgan showing a fine burst of pace and shot from distance for Saints, but his strike was well saved.
Dumbarton had managed to hold firm for most of the second half, but St Mirren finally found their second of the afternoon in 70 minutes, through the head of sub John Sutton. The experienced striker lept on McShane’s fine corner kick to rise highest and thunder home a header from inside the six-yard box.
St Mirren saw out the rest of the game with relative ease, introducing Magennis, with the scoreline never in any doubt.