St Mirren 3-0 Dumbarton

St Mirren eased through to the fifth-round of the Scottish Cup with a comfortable win over Dumbarton.

The Buddies went ahead in 17 minutes when Mark Corcoran smashed the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net from David van Zanten's cross.

David Barron made it two in the 38th minute, firing home after the Sons failed to clear Corcoran's corner.

Luckless Sons keeper David Crawford fumbled Billy Mehmet's shot into his own net in 70 to finish the contest.

Saints learned their lesson from their shock CIS Insurance Cup exit by Third Division outfit East Fife and put on a convincing display.

Dumbarton struggled to impose themselves against their SPL opponents.

Saints carved out the first chance of the game after three minutes when Corcoran whipped a cross in from the left and Mehmet dragged his shot just wide.

The Sons responded with Brian McPhee's audacious shot from 40 yards, but it did little to trouble Chris Smith in the Saints goal.

Corcoran then fired the Saints in front, lashing home after being found by van Zanten's cross from the right.

Craig Dargo went close to open his goalscoring account for the club with a powerful diving header but Crawford did well to smother the effort.

But seven minutes before the break, St Mirren doubled their lead when midfielder Barron arrowed home after the Jim Chapman's side failed to clear the set piece danger.

Saints dominated again after the restart but squandered the chance to build on their advantage when Corcoran exchanged a one-two with Dargo before setting up Mehmet for the shot but his effort cannoned off a yellow jersey and the chance was lost.

Sadly for Sons, the afternoon was over for them when Crawford could only watch in horror as he bundled a net-bound Mehmet drive into the net.

Sons boss Chapman clearly thought his keeper could have done better.

Crawford was therefore replaced within two minutes for replacement goalie Anton Nugent who managed to keep a clean-sheet for the remainder of the match.

---

St Mirren: Smith, Barron, Haining, Potter, Maxwell, Burke (Dorman 61), Mason, van Zanten (McGinn 88), Corcoran, Mehmet (Kean 88), Dargo. Subs Not Used: Howard, Miranda.

Goals: Corcoran 17, Barron 38, Mehmet 70.

Dumbarton: Crawford (Nugent 72), Yule (Geggan 49), Potter, Canning, Haswell (Russell 49), Hamilton, Tiernan, Evans, Brittain, McPhee, Kerr. Subs Not Used: Coyne, McNaught.

Att: 2,828

Ref: A Muir