St. Mirren vs East Kilbride 2026-07-21

St Mirren came from 3-0 down to beat East Kilbride 4-3 at the SMiSA Stadium and maintain their 100 per cent start in Group C of the Premier Sports Cup.

After opening the group with back-to-back 4-0 wins away to Annan Athletic and Arbroath, Saints were at home for the first time this season. But they found themselves three goals behind before producing a remarkable second-half comeback.

Saints created the better of the early chances. Roland Idowu curled wide after a run from Chris Mochrie before Jalmaro Calvin dragged an effort wide from 25 yards.

East Kilbride took the lead in the 32nd minute after Samuel Ramos fouled Sean Fagan in the penalty area. Cameron Elliott converted from the spot before doubling the visitors' lead seven minutes later when Malik Zaid's shot was diverted beyond Jacob Chapman.

Henry Fieldson had a chance to reduce the deficit before the break but could not turn Killian Phillips' cross into the net at the back post.

Manager Craig McLeish made three changes at half-time, bringing on Ryan Carr, Stevie Mallan and debutant Eseosa Sule for Carrick McEvoy, Ramos and Calvin.

Sule thought he had scored within seconds of coming on, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

East Kilbride extended their advantage in the 57th minute after Richard King conceded a second penalty of the night by fouling Finlay Gray. Craig McGuffie made it 3-0 from the spot.

St Mirren began their comeback three minutes later. Sule was brought down in the penalty area and converted the spot-kick himself to score his first goal for the club on his debut.

Further changes followed as Jayden Richardson and Malik Dijksteel came on. Dijksteel was denied by a deflection before Saints reduced the deficit in the 69th minute. Phillips flicked the ball through for Dijksteel, whose low cross was only partially cleared by Andrew Kyle, allowing Carr to bundle the ball over the line.

Saints drew level in the 77th minute. Chapman launched a long ball into the East Kilbride half and Phillips raced through before lifting his finish over advancing goalkeeper Shay Kelly to make it 3-3.

Sule missed a good chance to put the Buddies ahead when he fired over after being picked out by Richardson.

With the match heading towards a penalty shoot-out for the bonus point, St Mirren found a dramatic winner in injury time. Phillips played the ball wide to Sule, who returned it into the penalty area for Dijksteel. The winger took a touch before sliding a left-foot finish into the far corner to complete a remarkable comeback and secure all three points.

Full-Time: St Mirren 4-3 East Kilbride

St Mirren: Chapman, Fraser (c), King (Richardson 61), Gogic, Fieldson, McEvoy (Carr 46), Phillips, Ramos (Mallan 46), Idowu (Dijksteel 61), Mochrie, Calvin (Sule 46)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Taylor, Young, Douglas

East Kilbride: Kelly, Fagan, O'Connor, Hamilton, Kyle, Zaid, Gray, Armstrong, McGuffie (Spalding 74), Elliott (Foster 46), Calder
Subs Not Used: McKendrick, Steele, Ross, Lawson, McKenna