Even an unsuccessful penalty from Paul Sheerin – and a successful one from Billy Mehmet – could not take the gloss off a victory which sets up a meeting with Rangers or Partick Thistle in the next round.
This was hardly the Scottish Cup send-off S
t Mirren had envisaged for their old ground ahead of next season's move to their new stadium in the Ferguslie Park area of Paisley.
They may have rode their luck at the first time of asking at McDiarmid Park, Andy Dorman's late goal cancelling out Liam Craig's penalty to set up the quarter-final replay, but their luck ran out on home soil.
St Johnstone had progressed to the last four of both the Scottish Cup and the CIS Insurance Cup last season – eventually losing to Celtic and Hibernian respectively – and once again demonstrated their ability to match teams in the top flight.
Both sides were forced to make changes following the weekend action in their respective league competitions.
A facial injury sustained against Hearts ruled out John Potter, while the cup-tied Jim Hamilton was also a major loss for the home team. Stephen McGinn and Franco Miranda had to settle for a place on the bench as Andy Millen, Mark Corcoran, Mehmet and the now-fit Will Haining were drafted in to Gus MacPherson's first team.
The suspended Steven Anderson and Barry Wilson made way for St Johnstone boss Derek McInnes to introduce Kevin Rutkiewicz and Steven Milne for the trip to Paisley.
St Mirren started well enough, carving out the first real chance of the game when Corcoran's corner found the head of Ian Maxwell and his header dipped inches over the crossbar.
But the tie was all but over as a contest after just 28 minutes as St Johnstone ran riot.
The opener arrived with 14 minutes gone when Craig provided the cross from the left and Quinn connected superbly to send a volley past goalkeeper Chris Smith.
MacDonald then pounced on a long ball from goalkeeper Alan Main only to see his well-struck shot nestle on the roof of the net.
St Johnstone did not have to wait too long for a second goal, which arrived with 21 minutes on the clock. Sheerin's low ball was dummied by MacDonald and collected 16 yards from goal by Jackson, who rifled past the helpless Smith.
St Mirren were then left with a mountain to climb when their visitors claimed their third of the night after just 28 minutes. This time, it was MacDonald who left the net bulging with a lovely, curling effort from the edge of the box.
Unsurprisingly, Buddies boss MacPherson took advantage of half-time to shuffle his pack and David Barron was withdrawn for Stewart Kean for the second half.
Five minutes after the restart, however, the tie should have been over when referee Dougie McDonald pointed to the penalty spot after Jody Morris was felled by Gary Mason.
Sheerin stepped up for the spot kick but was left disappointed when Smith came to the rescue of the home side by diving to his left and parrying the shot to safety.
St Mirren then threw caution to the wind by swapping Millen for McGinn and switching to an attacking 3-4-3 formation.
There was further frustration for Sheerin when he conceded a penalty at the other end for handball and Mehmet showed him how to finish from 12 yards by rifling low into the net with 20 minutes to go.
Boosted by the goal, Mason fired just over the crossbar from a free kick on the edge of the area as St Mirren desperately tried to haul themselves back into the tie with time rapidly running out.
Maxwell then saw his header skim over the bar but the belated rally from the SPL side was too little too late as their fellow Saints eased into the last four of the tournament.
St Mirren: Smith, van Zanten, Haining, Millen, Maxwell, Barron, Mason, Dorman, Corcoran, Dargo, Mehmet. Subs: Howard, Murray, Miranda, Kean, McGinn.
St Johnstone: Main, Irvine, Rutkiewicz, McManus, Sheerin, Quinn, Craig, Morris, MacDonald, Milne, Jackson. Subs: Cuthbert, James, Moon, Wilson, Weatherston.
The full article contains 770 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
