Josh sends starlets into next round of the cup
DUMBARTON............0
ST MIRREN COLTS ....1
Josh Jack’s first-half screamer was enough to book the St Mirren kids’spot in the next round of the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Cup.
The striker’s free-kick was the difference on a night where the youngsters more than matched Jim Duffy’s League One side.
Allan McManus’Colts featured first-team experience in the shape of goalkeeper Dean Lyness, and midfielders Ethan Erhahon and Jim Kellermann. There was also a run out for highly-rated Cammy Breadner, who filled in at an unfamiliar left back role having been a part of the first team squad in recent weeks.
Saints were on the back foot early on in a cold night at The Rock.
Former Hamilton Accies striker Ryan Tierney was first to go close for the hosts but Lyness was more than a match as he blocked behind his low drive for the game’s first corner.
Isaac Layne than blasted an easy-looking chance at the far post, losing all composure in front of goal after Conor Scullion’s free kick found him unmarked.
That scare appeared to give McManus’side the boot up the back side they perhaps required in order to up their game.
The ever-impressive Breadner was causing all sorts of problems down the flanks as he continuously linked up well with Matthew Reilly out wide.
Another Breadner run was crudely halted in its tracks as St Mirren cranked up the pressure, allowing Jack to curl an unstoppable curling effort into the bottom corner to give Jordan Pettigrew no chance.
Unhappy with what he was watching, Sons boss Duffy axed ex-Saints midfielder Carswell in a bid to change up the side after little over half an hour – much to the amusement of the hardy bunch of travelling supporters.
Another first-half sub saw Jordan McMillan replaced by Kyle Hutton, another much-maligned member of Alex Rae’s tenure in charge of the Paisley club.
Chances for Dumbarton soon fell the way of Mati Zata and Hutton and but for a fine save from Lyness the latter would have gotten the hosts level with a vicious rising strike on the stroke of half-time.
Dumbarton would have been hopeful of a leveller in the second period but the St Mirren defensive trio of Scott Glover, Nick McAllister and Connor McBrearty were more than a match.
Layne did hit the post when it appeared easier to score, but failing that the better of the chances fell the way of the Buddies.
McBrearty and Lewis Jamieson had chances to extend the lead but ultimately the Saints held on with relative ease.