Spartans Boss: East Kilbride the Team to Beat in League Two
The Spartans concluded their Premier Sports Cup campaign with a 4–0 defeat to William Hill Premiership side Falkirk earlier today. The Edinburgh-based side went into half-time trailing by just one goal, but three second-half strikes from the full-time Bairns saw the score line widen after a promising opening 45 minutes. Dylan Tait opened the scoring in the first half before the Spartans tested Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain on several occasions. However, a second-half double from Calvin Miller and a goal from Scott Arfield secured a comfortable win for the hosts. Despite the two sides being separated by the full length of the SPFL pyramid, Spartans boss Douglas Samuel, now the longest-serving manager in the SPFL, having been at the helm since 2012, felt his side competed well. Speaking post-match, the former Edinburgh University boss said he was “proud” of his players and praised their “effort and performance,” although he admitted the second-half display could have been better. Spartans earned promotion into the SPFL pyramid in 2023 after defeating Albion Rovers in the play-offs as Lowland League champions. They begin their League Two campaign next week away to last season’s Lowland League winners, East Kilbride, marking their official debut in the senior league setup. Despite East Kilbride also being newly promoted, Samuel has already identified Mick Kennedy’s side as the ones to beat this season. He said: “They are the favourites for League Two, so I expect it to be a hard game. In that sense, today was great preparation for us” “Will they be able to press and get after us with the same intensity as full-time Falkirk players? “We’ll find out.” Kennedy, the former Darvel boss who famously defeated Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup, has been open about his ambition to take East Kilbride as high as the Championship within the next few years, and his side have already shown flashes of their quality. Earlier this month, they defeated Championship side Raith Rovers 4–2 in their own Premier Sports Cup group. However, they also suffered defeats to St Johnstone and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, the latter a 6–2 loss on Tuesday, suggesting there’s still work to be done. East Kilbride have also endured a disrupted pre-season in terms of squad building. Summer signings Josh O’Connor, son of former Hibs striker Garry, and Sena Niang both left the club just weeks after signing, in a bizarre situation. They’ve also been hit hard by injuries. New signing Ouzy See is out for the entire season after picking up an injury against Raith Rovers. Cami Elliott remains sidelined with an Achilles issue that kept him out over the summer. Defenders Jamie Hamilton and Jordan McGregor are out, while midfielder Joao Balde is racing against time to be fit for the League Two opener. While the Spartans’ heavy defeat to Falkirk exposed the challenges of stepping up against full-time professional opposition, there were encouraging signs in their competitive spirit and early-season preparations. With the League Two campaign kicking off next week against a strong East Kilbride side, Douglas Samuel’s squad will be eager to build on their pre-season efforts and make their own push at the top of the table. The coming weeks will be crucial in setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting season in the SPFL’s fourth tier.
McGlynn: “We’re Going to Another Level Now” as Falkirk Prepare for Premiership Return
Falkirk manager John McGlynn praised his side’s focus and momentum after a dominant 4–0 win over The Spartans secured progression to the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup. Goals from Dylan Tait, Scott Arfield, and a Calvin Miller double rounded off an impressive group stage campaign at The Falkirk Stadium, with the Bairns finishing unbeaten on eleven points. Despite missing out on a seeded place McGlynn insisted the bigger picture far outweighs any short-term disappointment. For the Falkirk boss, next Sunday’s Premiership opener against Dundee United represents more than just a fixture, it marks the end of a long road back to the top flight after 15 years away. He said: “Next Sunday, at 2 o’clock, we’re live on Sky, everybody is buzzing here, everybody is so excited. “It is the first time for a generation of fans that they’re going to see their team playing in the Premiership.” The sense of anticipation has been building for weeks, ever since the Bairns secured their second consecutive promotion to return to the Premiership. McGlynn’s men looked sharp and clinical, with quick, one touch passes, and the ability to drive up the park quickly either from the flanks, or through the centre. While Falkirk’s cup form has been almost flawless, apart from a 0-0 draw away to Cove, where they picked up a bonus point during the shootout, McGlynn admitted it’s now all about what lies ahead: “We’ve come back, and we’ve played a lot of pre-season friendlies, and we’re fed up with them. “With the greatest respect, we’ve got a bit fed up with this because we’re going to go to another level now. “It’s the excitement and the enthusiasm that will be out here next Sunday. The winning momentum is there. “We wanted to continue the momentum today, which we have done.” Falkirk may have been edged out of a seeded spot by the likes of Hearts, St Johnstone, and Partick Thistle, all of whom took maximum points, but they head into the new league campaign unbeaten, confident, and with belief surging through the stands. For the Falkirk faithful, many of whom have never seen their club in the top tier, Sunday’s clash against Dundee United will be more than just a curtain-raiser, it’s a whole new ball game for a generation of supporters.
Falkirk Stroll Past Spartans to Seal Last 16 Spot
Falkirk beat The Spartans 4-0 at The Falkirk Stadium this afternoon in their final Premier Sports Cup group stage fixture. Dylan Tait scored in the first half, with Scott Arfield adding a second after the break, before Calvin Miller struck twice to round off an emphatic second-half display. The Bairns entered the match knowing that only a win would keep their hopes of progressing as a seeded team alive. Several sides, such as Premiership rivals Hearts, have already made it through on the maximum 12 points. Team News After the midweek win over Queen’s Park, John McGlynn spoke about rotating between goalkeepers Nicky Hogarth and Scott Bain ahead of the league season. That policy continued today, with the former Celtic stopper returning to the starting line-up in place of Hogarth. McGlynn has yet to confirm his first-choice goalkeeper for next Sunday’s Premiership opener against Dundee United, the club’s first top-flight fixture in 15 years. Also returning to the Bairns’ starting XI were Brian Graham, Tuesday night’s goal scorer, and talisman Scott Arfield. The Spartans needed a win to have any chance of leapfrogging Cove Rangers into second. They made changes themselves, including rotating their goalkeeper with Paddy Martin coming in. There was still no place for Jordan Tapping, who rejoined the club this summer after more than a year out of football in Australia. First Half Falkirk started brightly, particularly through Ethan Ross, who was fresh from scoring twice on Tuesday evening. His pace and delivery caused problems for the Spartans down their right-hand side. The Bairns made their pressure count before the half-hour mark. Brad Spencer whipped in a corner that Brian Graham met with a powerful header. Although his effort was blocked, Dylan Tait reacted quickest and smashed home the rebound. Spartans nearly found an unlikely equaliser late in the half when Liam Henderson misjudged a cross and almost diverted it into his own net, the ball skimming just over the bar. The score remained 1–0 at the break despite Falkirk’s dominance. Second Half That changed early in the second half. Arfield raced through one-on-one with Paddy Martin on the left side of the box and coolly slotted the ball beneath the Spartans’ goalkeeper to double the lead. Moments later, Arfield turned provider. The former Rangers midfielder fizzed a low cross into the box, where Keelan Adams pounced. His shot was blocked on the line, but Calvin Miller followed in to bundle the ball over and seal a comfortable win for Falkirk. Bain would make an excellent save to deny Bradley Whyte to ensure his competitive clean sheet record with the Bairns remained intact. Substitute Alfredo Agyeman turned provider for Miller’s second and Falkirk’s fourth. The Ghanaian picked up the ball on the left wing and delivered a pinpoint cross onto the foot of Miller, who volleyed it home. Falkirk had a couple of chances for a fifth, and a few penalty shouts were waved away, but the match finished 4-0 to the hosts, who advanced to the last 16. Despite their unbeaten group record, the Bairns go into the next stage unseeded, with Hearts, St Johnstone and Partick Thistle all joining the five Scottish European representatives as the seeded sides after finishing their groups on the maximum 12 points. Falkirk will now turn their attention to their Premiership return against Dundee United this weekend, while the Spartans will return to League 2 action against Lowland League winners East Kilbride. Attendance: 2,312
Premier Sports Cup: Hearts Cruise Past Dumbarton to Secure Seeded Knockout Spot
Hearts continued their impressive Premier Sports Cup showing with a win over Scottish League Two side Dumbarton at Tynecastle this evening. The Jambos finished their group stage campaign with a perfect 12 points from four games and progress to the knockout rounds as a seeded team. Dumbarton, entering a new era under Canadian owner Mario Lapointe and signing 16 new players, came into the match off the back of a heavy defeat to Dunfermline. Amongst the new arrivals at Dumbarton was former Hearts forwards Ally Roy, who started at the ground he began his career at. The hosts got proceedings underway, shooting towards the travelling Dumbarton support, and dominated the early stages, Lawrence Shankland going close within the first minute. Dumbarton’s Irish defender, Gordon Walker, produced a crucial early interception to deny Hearts, but the breakthrough came midway through the first half. Club captain Shankland met a pinpoint Stephen Kingsley cross with a diving header past Dumbarton keeper Shay Kelly, the 18-year-old younger brother of Rangers stopper Liam. Hearts killed off any chance of an upset just before half-time. A Sander Kartum corner was nodded home by Michael Steinwender, breaking the resolve of Dumbarton’s stubborn defence. In the second half, Scott Tomlinson rattled the crossbar for the visitors after beating Kingsley, as the Sons pushed for an unlikely comeback. But Hearts extinguished any remaining hope when new signing Alexandros Kyziridis burst into the penalty area and drove a low effort across Kelly into the net. The Greek winger now has two goals in two games as the Jambos look to bounce back from last season’s disappointing campaign, with signs of smart summer business under new boss Derek McInnes. Hearts hit four for the fourth consecutive Premier Sports Cup match with another new signing Claudio Braga, tapping home a Cammy Devlin cut back. Hearts would continue to threaten for a fifth while Dumbarton huffed and puffed for some rare up field ventures. Both sides would make numerous changes as the game petered out. Hearts finish the group with four wins from four and look back to their best ahead of their Premiership opener against Aberdeen. The Jambos looking to return to the top-six this year and push for a European return. Dumbarton now travel to Hamilton knowing only a win and a huge goal swing from Dunfermline would see them progress. Dunfermline take on the group’s basement side Stirling in their final fixture. Dumbarton return to League Two this year and kick off their campaign against Clyde at the Marbill Coaches Stadium a week on Saturday as they look to return to the third tier at the first time of asking.
Falkirk Boss Weighs Up Goalkeeper Options Ahead of League Opener
Falkirk claimed a 3–1 victory over Queen’s Park in the Premier Sports Cup on Tuesday night. A double from Ethan Ross and a late Brian Graham strike cancelled out Josh Fowler’s opener. But despite the result, much of the post-match focus turned to the battle for the No.1 shirt. Manager John McGlynn reflected critically on the goal his side conceded, suggesting that Nicky Hogarth, back in the starting XI, could have done more. “They get a free kick, their first time up the park, and we don’t defend it,” McGlynn said. “Nicky maybe should do better, and Keelan [Adams] doesn’t follow in. There are factors to us losing the goal.” Hogarth, who had been tipped for a Scotland call-up during the national team’s recent injury crisis between the posts, has been rotated with former Celtic keeper Scott Bain throughout pre-season and the early stages of the cup. McGlynn confirmed that Bain would return for this weekend’s tie against The Spartans but stopped short of naming a first-choice goalkeeper ahead of the new league campaign. “Scott is going to go back in goals on Saturday,” he said. “We’ve alternated pretty much every game, cups and friendlies. There’s been just a minute separating them overall. “Nicky played the first game against Brechin, Scotty played against Cove, then Nicky played tonight. To be honest, they’ve not had an awful lot to do, so I haven’t learned much. “But Scotty needed minutes. He hadn’t played a lot at Celtic, and I think the games have been valuable for him. “Both are very good with their feet, their distribution is excellent, which is something we value in a goalkeeper. “Nicky’s developing well, and for a goalie he’s still young, but he’s gaining experience fast. “It’s a decision we’ll have to make. Scotty will play again on Saturday, but for Dundee United, I couldn’t tell you just yet.” With both keepers pushing for the gloves and McGlynn still undecided, the final Premier Sports Cup group match could prove decisive in settling Falkirk’s goalkeeping hierarchy before the league campaign kicks off. The club boast one of the strongest goalkeeping divisions in the Premiership, with former Partick Thistle number one Jamie Sneddon also an option going forward.
Brian Graham Seals Comeback Win as Bairns Edge Past Queen’s Park
Back-to-back promotion winners Falkirk continued their preparations for their return to Scottish football’s topflight this evening by hosting Queen’s Park in the Premier Sports Cup. Both sides were in the Championship last season, but with very different fortunes, the Bairns securing the second of two successive promotions, while Queen’s fell into freefall following their famous victory over Rangers at Ibrox. The Spiders won just once in 13 Championship games after that shock win against their Glasgow rivals. Falkirk began their Premier Sports Cup campaign with a big win over Brechin City but followed it up with a disappointing draw away to Cove Rangers, though they did secure the bonus point on penalties against the Aberdeenshire side. Queen’s, on the other hand, had played two group fixtures already, losing away to The Spartans before comfortably defeating Highland League side Brechin in their second outing. Both teams still had everything to play for heading into kick-off. The hosts got us underway, wearing their change kit and shooting towards the Kevin McAllister Stand. Falkirk dominated the early stages without creating anything clear-cut, and they were punished as the visitors took the lead, Josh Fowler tapping home at the back post after a fine initial save from Nicky Hogarth, who had denied Charlie Fox’s diving header. The goal seemed to rattle the Bairns, and Queen’s almost doubled their advantage soon after. Fowler won the ball with some tenacious pressing on the byline, but the angle was too tight, and Hogarth managed to block. Falkirk drew level right before the break after a lung-bursting counterattack from Ethan Ross. He laid the ball off to Calvin Miller, whose shot was blocked, but Ross was on hand to poke the ball past Callum Ferrie and restore parity. After the interval, the Bairns completed the turnaround. A back-post cross from the left found Ross MacIver, and the target man cushioned his header back across goal, where Ross was waiting to double his tally. Sebastian Drozd, the Spiders’ Ibrox hero, had a huge chance to level the match, finding himself clean through inside the Falkirk penalty area, but the former Millwall man lost his composure and could only find the side netting. Both sides had late chances, with Brian Graham, on as a substitute, notably missing two great opportunities. However, the former Partick Thistle player-manager atoned for his earlier wastefulness by tapping home a deflected Scott Arfield effort at the back post to secure the points for the Bairns. Graham’s finish put the back-to-back title winners back on track for progression to the knockout stages of the Premier Sports Cup. Queen’s Park now travel north to Cove knowing anything less than a win will end their cup hopes while Falkirk can now breathe a little easier after their Cove Rangers draw as they host The Spartans in their final game where a win will be enough to see them top the table. Attendance: 2,387
European Adventures Begin for Scottish Trio
Rangers, Hibernian, and Dundee United kick off their European qualification campaigns this week. Rangers welcome Panathinaikos to Ibrox, Hibernian travel to Denmark to face FC Midtjylland, and United host Luxembourg’s UNA Strassen. Greek Test in Martin’s First Competitive Match Russell Martin’s appointment has split the Rangers fanbase, some welcome his free-flowing style whilst others question his pedigree in taking the Ibrox’s top job. Tuesday’s match against Greek side Panathinaikos promises to be a baptism of fire for the former Southampton manager. Panathinaikos mirrored Rangers’ domestic performance last season, securing a second-place finish. Their recent European adventures saw them participate in the UEFA Conference League, where they finished 13th in the group stage before a pulsating Round of 16 clash that saw them narrowly lose 5-4 on aggregate to Fiorentina. For the Ibrox faithful, this encounter with Panathinaikos may stir fond memories. Their last meeting, in the 2008 UEFA Cup, saw Nacho Novo net an 81st-minute equaliser to send Rangers through on away goals. This tie was pivotal in Rangers’ memorable run to the 2008 UEFA Cup final, ultimately ending in a 2-0 defeat to Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester. Victory for Rangers would promote them to the third round of Champions League qualification, where they will meet Czech side Viktoria Plzen or Switzerland’s Servette. Defeat for Martin’s side would present a challenging draw against Besiktas or Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League third qualifying round. Danish Giants Await Gray’s Hibernian David Gray was the interim manager for Hibs’ last European match – a Conference League clash against Aston Villa. This season, they face another stern test against Danish giants FC Midtjylland. FC Midtjylland narrowly missed out on their domestic title, finishing one point adrift of champions FC Copenhagen. Their prior visits to Scotland have yielded mixed results: a 7-3 aggregate defeat to Rangers in the Europa League qualifiers and a 3-2 aggregate victory over Celtic in the Champions League qualifiers. The first leg is scheduled for July 24th in Denmark, with the decisive second leg taking place in Leith on July 31st. Victory of Midtjylland would present another Scandinavian challenge for Hibs, taking on Norway’s Fredrikstad in the Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round. Defeat would relegate them to the UEFA Conference League 3rd Round, where they would face Ukraine’s FC Oleksandriya or Serbia’s FK Partizan. European Reward for Jim Goodwin’s Men Following an impressive 4th place finish on their return to the Scottish Premiership, Dundee United’s season preparations are in full swing. Draws with Arbroath, St Johnstone, and Oldham, with a trip to the Netherlands in between, they welcome Luxembourg’s UNA Strassen on Thursday evening. Their UEFA Conference League 2nd round qualifier is the Arabs’ first continental outing since their memorable (albeit forgettable) 7-1 aggregate defeat to AZ Alkmaar in 2022. Victory over Strassen will pit Goodwin’s team against Decic of Montenegro or Rapid Vienna of Austria.
East Kilbride’s Turbulent Summer Raises Questions Before League Two Campaign
East Kilbride became the fifth team to be promoted from the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland Football League to the William Hill SPFL last season, after defeating Bonnyrigg Rose in a playoff final. Former Darvel manager Mick Kennedy, who famously oversaw a Scottish Cup upset against Jim Goodwin’s Aberdeen a few years ago, led his side to promotion after a standout season in the fifth tier. However, concerns have been raised about the high turnover of the playing squad during the club’s title-winning campaign. Since Kennedy, who also once guided amateur side Colville Park to the Scottish Amateur Cup, took charge of ‘Kilby’ in 2023, the club has used a remarkable number of first-team players, 54 in 2023/24 and 38 so far in 2024/25, with 11 new signings this summer alone. Yet two of those summer recruits have already departed K-Park in what has been an unusual saga. First, Josh O’Connor, the 21-year-old son of former Hibernian and Scotland striker Garry, left Northern Irish side Crusaders at the end of last season and was announced as an EK signing on June 25. He featured in a friendly soon after, but just weeks later, on July 10, was unveiled by League Two rivals Elgin City. One such case could be written off as an odd anomaly. However, fellow new signing Mouhamed “Sena” Niang, Dumbarton’s Player of the Year last season, has also left, despite only joining earlier this summer. The Senegalese midfielder was announced as an East Kilbride player, also on June 25, and appeared on the bench twice before suddenly moving to another League Two side, Clyde, on July 18. Kennedy’s side also signed Ian McShane and Scott Ferguson from Gartcairn in the final months of last season, only for both to leave before making a single appearance in their debut League Two campaign. With rumours of a fractured relationship between players and staff, and such a high rate of player turnover. Could be the first sign of trouble at a club widely expected to challenge for another promotion? During their Lowland League campaigns, the club took full advantage of the less-restricted non-league transfer windows. But following promotion, East Kilbride must now operate within the standard summer and January windows. They can no longer make quick changes after a couple of poor results. The question now is whether Kennedy and his team can adapt to the realities of league football, or if we are seeing the early signs of teething problems for the SPFL’s newest members.
On Par: Neil Lennon’s Men Find Their Rhythm Against Sons
Dumbarton continued their Premier Sports Cup campaign this afternoon with a home fixture against William Hill Championship side Dunfermline Athletic. The visitors, managed by former Celtic boss Neil Lennon, arrived at the Marbill Coaches Stadium following a narrow defeat to Hearts in their group stage opener, while Dumbarton entered the contest on the back of a midweek win over Stirling Albion. Team News Sons manager Stevie Farrell made four changes to the starting XI, introducing Ollie Ecrepont, Cammy Clark, Kai Kirkpatrick, and Leighton McIntosh. Dropping out were Shay Kelly, Adam Livingstone, Tony Falconer, and Ally Roy. Lennon made just one change from the team that faced Hearts, with Lucas Fyfe replacing Alfons Amade. Kyle Benedictus seemed to operate as a sweeper in a throwback role within Lennon’s system. First Half – Early Sons Pressure But Pars Take Control Dunfermline started the match on the front foot, dominating possession during the early stages. However, Dumbarton created the first real opportunities, with Clark and Morgyn Neill both forcing saves from visiting goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet. Despite that positive spell, it was the visitors who opened the scoring midway through the first half. Josh Cooper found space on the edge of the box and curled a precise effort beyond Ecrepont to give the Pars the lead. Dunfermline nearly doubled their advantage soon after, with chances falling to Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Chris Kane, and John Tod, but the home defence stood firm to keep the score at 1–0. On the stroke of half-time, the visitors made it two. Ewan Otoo burst down the left and cut the ball back across the box. Cooper dummied cleverly, allowing Kane to arrive late and smash home a powerful strike, leaving Dumbarton two goals down at the interval. Second Half – Clinical Finishing Seals the Win The second period began with another blow for Dumbarton. Substitute Andrew Tod, returning from an injury layoff, broke through the defence and rounded Ecrepont with composure before finishing into an empty net to make it 3–0. The game settled into a scrappier rhythm thereafter, with fewer clear chances and a number of fouls disrupting the flow. Dunfermline completed the scoring late on, as Cooper grabbed his second of the match with a well-taken back-post volley following an excellent delivery from the right. Aron Lynas came off the bench for Dumbarton to replace Neill and marked his 100th appearance for the club in the closing stages. Post-Match Reaction The result marked a strong response from Dunfermline following their midweek bounce game against Rangers, and Lennon’s side now look ahead to Tuesday’s home match against Hamilton Accies as they aim to keep pace with group leaders Hearts. Speaking after the match, Lennon reflected on the performance and the importance of progressing in the competition. He said: “We showed plenty of respect to Dumbarton and played the game accordingly. “It was a great team performance, and you can see glimpses of what we’re trying to do now. “It could’ve been a lot more but there’s still lots to work on, but my players looked good.” For Dumbarton, the focus now shifts to another challenging test next weekend away to William Hill Premiership side Hearts, before the League Two season begins in August. Manager Stevie Farrell acknowledged the quality of the opposition and emphasised the value of the experience for his players. He said: “They’re a very good side and I was very impressed with them. “I watched their hearts game back and I thought they were really good, we knew we were going to face a really good side today. “We started the game really well in the first ten minutes. If we take one of our chances you just never know. But ultimately, we didn’t deserve to win the game. “The second half, I thought we were going to be a bit stronger. But we got more out of that today than we did against Stirling on Tuesday night. “It’s the type of test the boys needed and we’ll have another one next week at Tynecastle.”
Buddies Run Riot: St Mirren Hit Eight Past Helpless Annan
St Mirren kicked off their competitive home season in spectacular fashion after netting eight goals against Annan Athletic. Stephen Robinson’s side came out firing, securing a three-goal lead within the first ten minutes. Killian Phillips bagged two early goals before Mikael Mandron smashed home Fraser Taylor’s through ball. The Buddies controlled the opening exchanges, link-up play from Ayunga, Mandron, and Phillips constantly troubling the visitors’ defence. Conor McMenamin was a constant threat on the right hand side, hitting the crossbar with a left-footed strike before firing wide from the edge of the box. Annan’s 84 travelling fans finally had something to celebrate in the 38th minute when Miles Gaffney latched onto a through ball and slotted past Ryan Mullen in the St Mirren goal. St Mirren started the second half brightly with Declan John forcing an early save from the onrushing Gio Clarke. However, it was Annan who would strike next, Miles Gaffney headed in his 2nd of the afternoon to give the Saints a wakeup call. The home side responded well to the setback. The ever-present Killian Phillips won a penalty which summer signing Richard King powerfully converted. Fraser Taylor spent last season on loan at Arbroath but was a standout in St Mirren’s midfield, his extensive passing range constantly stretching the Annan defence. Robinson spoke post match about Taylor’s ability to dictate a game, choosing to implement him in a deeper number 6 position. St Mirren finished the second half on top, surpassing their first-half tally with four goals in the final ten minutes. Mandron met Declan John’s low cross to make it five before Jayden Richardson drilled home the sixth on his home debut. Mandron completed his hat-trick with a low finish before substitute Ronald Idowu made it an incredible eight. This victory solidifies St Mirren’s top spot in Group D, they welcome Scott Brown’s Ayr United next Sunday. For Annan, 14 goals conceded in their last two games and significant work ahead as Willie Gibson’s men return to League 2. Teams St Mirren: (3-5-2) Mullen, Fraser, Gogic (Iacovitti 62’), King, Tanser (John 46’) , McMenamin (Richardson 62’), O’Hara, Taylor, Phillips (Scott 62’), Mandron, Ayunga (Idowu 46’) Bookings: Mandron 19’ Idowu 80’ Annan Athletic: (4-2-3-1) Clarke, Gilmour, Todd, Gibson, R. Muir, A. Smith, McGowan, Deveney (Maxwell 64’), Smith, Gaffney (Carmichael 81’), Craik Bookings: Gibson 80’ Attendance: 2,164
