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The last time Greenock Morton and St Mirren met at Cappielow one TikTok trialist stole the limelight. One year on and it was Roland Idowu - officially listed as a trialist - earning the plaudits.
The St Mirren midfielder - on loan from Shrewsbury Town for the season but listed due to registration matters - netted twice to earn the Renfrewshire bragging rights for the Paisley club at the home of their rivals.
Idowu, 22, opened the scoring after just three minutes as he curled expertly into the bottom corner.
Despite a lightning start, the visitors wouldn't have it all their own way at Cappielow with Zak Delaney fizzing over ten minutes later before Ellery Balcombe was called into action to push clear a Lamar Reynolds strike.
On 26 minutes, the on-loan Brentford keeper was forced to make a smart stop as his outstretched right hand denied Owen Moffat who had fired towards the bottom corner.
Five minutes later and St Mirren would double their lead - Idowu again clinical in the box. Mikael Mandron teed up Idowu who lashed past Ryan Mullen in the Morton net.
The midfielder could have had a first-half hat-trick before the break but his effort this time was matched by Mullen who parried clear.
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Morton skipper Grant Gillespie bustled his way into the box with five minutes to half-time but was again denied by Balcombe. The goalkeeper - who impressed in his 45-minute showing - would then protect his clean sheet again at the whistle as he smothered a low drive in the box.
The second half would fail to settle into a rhythm with both sides making a host of changes throughout the pre-season friendly tie.
St Mirren goalkeeper Peter Urminsky was only tested in his catching from cross-balls. Opportunities would be limited at the other end too but Toyosi Olusanya and Jaden Brown can both count themselves unlucky not to find their names on the scoresheet.
Olusanya watched a deflected effort agonisingly squirm away from the goalline with Mullen beaten before Brown rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike from range.
Morton would go inches from a consolation in the closing stages as a ball ricocheted around the box before being struck by Jack Baird - but his effort was weak and turned round the post courtesy of a wild swing from Oisin Smyth on the line.
