Saints knocked out one half of the old firm and will now face the other in the League Cup Final at Ochilview.
Two headed goals, one in each half, were enough for the St Mirren supporters’ side to defeat the Rangers outfit on a day when the Paisley team showed their metal and their class.
The reward is a final against Kerrydale Celtic on Saturday 28th May on the plastic fantastic Stenhousemuir surface.
Following an indifferent league campaign and with the senior side offering few reasons to be cheerful, Mirrenoff’s first ever cup final will provide a welcome distraction.
They were far from distracted on Sunday, taking a cocky Gers side to task, winning their personal and collective battles all over the pitch.
It took just 10 minutes before Mirrenoff went ahead – and it came courtesy of a peach from defender turned midfielder Grant Elliott.
The student nurse had been tasked with a closing down operation on the Gers’ tricky No.5, but instead found himself rising highest to bullet home an Andy Tucker corner.
A goal to the good and the home side were winning the applause of the dedicated support who ignored the inclement weather to cheer on their team.
Defending from the front, the lively front pairing of Robert Hillcoat and Craig Sinclair never gave the Sandbank defence a minute’s peace, forcing them into presenting possession back to the Saints midfield.
The trio of Elliott, Gordy McEwan and David Wilson in the centre of the park were complimenting one another well and McEwan’s no-nonsense tackling had Sandbank rattled.
Only once in the first half did the cup favourites threaten Saints keeper Craig Muir’s goal, but the Sports Coaching student sprung to life to thwart the Gers attack.
As Sandbank started to pick up bookings for late challenges, Saints maintained their discipline into the second half and came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage, but McEwan could not keep his header down.
It looked like a costly mistake as on 60 minutes, a Sandbank sub equalised, firing past Muir after a long punt was flicked into his path.
A sweeping move from defence almost gave Saints the second goal their play deserved. Following wonderful wing play from Tucker down the right, his cross found Duncan Johnston at the back post, but his shot was somehow hacked off the line by a Sandbank defender.
With extra-time looming, Saints surged forward once more and won another corner. Wilson delivered from the right and this time McEwan found the target, his header deemed to have been over the line despite a Sandbank player’s acrobatic clearance attempt.
Saints coach Mark Syme rang the changes late on, Wilson forced off with a shoulder injury while Johnston had also picked up a knock. Chris Dailly and David Walker took their places, but it was Ryan Keenan, on for Sinclair, who cleverly ran down the clock with a series of lung bursting runs to the corner flag.
With no game this weekend, Saints will hope their injury worries clear up ahead of their final two league matches, including a match against the Celtic side they will then face on cup final Saturday.
Coach Syme said: “We are absolutely delighted to reach the Cup final – just reward for a season where our results have not always reflected our performances. That was certainly not the case today as we were far better than Sandbank in every department and thoroughly deserved the win.”
