ross county 1

st mirren 3

St Mirren's first taste of the Premier League Goliath role ended happily although Ross County made a real match of it at Victoria Park.

The Dingwall men opened through George Shaw, a former Buddies favourite, nine minutes from time only to lose their lead to Hugh Murray's effort three minutes later.

A goal in either half of extra-time from Scott Walker and sub Tom Brown killed off brave County, but their Premier opponents had been in a battle.

Jose Quitongo looked like the one player capable of cracking the impressive County defence and he took control with a series of incisive bursts. But in 20 minutes, a dangerous Marc Millar free-kick clutched superbly by County keeper Roy.

However, County seemed set to achieve a major upset in 81 minutes when Holmes attacked a long flighted ball from

Cunnington in the area. It eventually fell to Shaw, who gratefully slotted home the opener from six yards.

Saints equalised three

minutes later when the ball broke to Murray, 23 yards out and he unleashed a searing drive which took a slight deflection as it beat Walker.

In 93 minutes Saints nudged ahead with Walker powering home a header from a Ricky Gillies corner.

Gillies heightened their joy in 112 minutes with a clever through ball, with Brown

showing great calm as he shot it home.

Later, exasperated Tom

Hendrie admitted that only Jose Quitongo could need a

toilet break right at the most crucial moment of extra-time.

The Angolan winger had an excellent match, but stunned the jubilant Saints manager by requesting to leave the field to relieve himself with St Mirren hanging on to a 2-1 lead a few minutes before half-time in extra-time.