Saints boss Gus MacPherson made just one change to the team that beat Queen of the South at the weekend, loan signing Charlie Adam replacing Mark Corcoran as Saints went with a simple 4-4-2. Kevin McGowne came onto the bench in replace of John Baird.
Both teams had chances to take the lead early on at a windy Love Street, Stenhousemuir looking perhaps a little more threatining. Twenty minutes in, however, and it began to rain goals.
First, Charlie Adam duffed his shot but managed to recover enough to slip the ball to Simon Lappin, who absolutely hammered the ball into the net. After going without a goal for about a year, he'd scored twice in four days in Kevin McGowne style.
Two minutes later Adam got his name onto the scoresheet with his first Saints goal, rounding the Stenny goalkeeper and slotting the ball away well. A minute later the game was finished when a misplaced Kirk Broadfoot punt swung perfectly in the wind for John Sutton to head over Stenny's keeper and into the net for his first goal as well. Easy stuff this.
Erm, no. This is St. Mirren we're talking about remember. Nine minutes later, James Mercer got one back when he clipped home a corner, although he looked suspiciously offside. There was no doubt about the second, which came six minutes from Paul McGrillen, as he capitalised on some poor defending to slot home. Game well and truly on.
Saints managed to hold on until half time and dominated for most of the second half, creating chances but just failing to take them. Hugh Murray hit the woodwork with a header, his only contribution on a poor night, whilst Sutton and Adam missed glorious chances to make the game safe. We created loads but couldn't take them, which I suppose is better than creating nothing!
Whilst we remained just a goal ahead there was always the worry that Stenhousemuir would nick one, and they nearly did in the last minute, having a couple of efforts cleared off the line. Thankfully, we held out and are now in the draw for the semi finals.
There were some good performers tonight, with Lappin doing well whilst Sutton and Adam look like they will turn into good acquisitions. On the other hand, however, Murray and Andy Millen were quite poor.
Comedy moment of the night came when a message was read out on the tannoy about former Saints keeper Derek Scrimgour, who was actually on duty as a policeman at the game!
Finally, only 725 folk at Love Street tonight. Where were you, Saints fans? Those of you who were watching Rangers, either on TV or at Ibrox, should be ashamed.