St Mirren marked their first home European fixture in 37 years in style with victory over Valur.
Stephen Robinson’s side dominated proceedings in Paisley as they progressed to the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round where they’ll meet Norwegian outfit SK Brann.
Shaun Rooney powered the hosts in front after just 15 minutes when he was left with acres of space in the box and nodded into the bottom corner.
St Mirren did have Ellery Balcombe to thank for protecting their lead to the break, though, as he brilliantly denied Tryggvi Hrafn Haraldsson.
Six minutes after the break and Toyosi Olusanya doubled the lead after good work from Roland Idowu to surge into the box and square for a tap-in.
Mark O’Hara added flair to the night with a stunning strike on 65 minutes as he lashed into the top corner following Jonah Ayunga’s headed lay-off.
The Paisley club wouldn’t have it all their own way in the second period as Valur pulled one back but Jonatan Ingi Jonsson’s penalty finish – after a foul by Jaden Brown – was rendered a consolation.
Alex Iacovitti put the icing on the cake for the hosts with minutes left as he bundled home on his competitive debut for the club.
Game, set, match
Shaun Rooney has a knack for scoring goals when it matters. Scottish Cup and League Cup winners’ medals have come after crucial headers for St Johnstone.
On his first competitive appearance for St Mirren, after missing the first leg through suspension, Rooney endeared himself to his new supporters with another trademark header.
His heroics were watched on by partner Heather Watson, albeit in France after the tennis pro competed in the Olympics. Team GB representative Watson was eliminated from the doubles but is set to travel to Scotland on Friday boosted by Rooney's sporting success.
Once Rooney had opened the scoring, it seemed this game was St Mirren’s to lose. Now they’re set for another match on the continent.
Night of legends
For so long, St Mirren supporters faced the grim prospect of a lifetime out of European football.
It was fitting on a night for new legends to write their name in the history books that another was remembered.
Tribute was paid to record European appearance holder Billy Abercromby, nine outings, with a minute’s applause before kick-off.
Affectionately known as Aber, the former midfielder was involved in four European campaigns with the club.
Those in the black-and-white stripes on Thursday will be hoping there are more big nights under the lights in their futures.
A huge fan corteo to the ground kick-started a night that will live long in folklore. The stadium was booming from an hour before the first whistle and booming chants were relentless until history was made.
Lessons learned from Iceland
St Mirren froze in front of goal last week in Reykjavik but atoned for their errors with ice-cold finishes in Paisley.
Rooney’s header was one that might have been passed up last week and Toyosi Olusanya saw multiple gilt-edged chances drift beyond him.
This time, when the opportunity arose St Mirren clutched it with both hands.
Olusanya’s finish was emblematic of the shift in performance from the hosts. Roland Idowu had the goal at his mercy but didn’t gamble and was unselfish to square to the striker.
That was clinical, Mark O’Hara’s was outrageous as he lashed into the postage stamp from just inside the box.
Thursday night frights
Make no mistake, St Mirren were deserved winners over the two legs against Valur – but it wasn’t without a couple of wake-up calls.
Had Ellery Balcombe not been on top of his game then it might have been a different story – or more of a challenge at the minimum.
The on-loan Brentford stopper was a standout in the first leg and made a huge stop to deny Valur a quickfire equaliser in Paisley.
Jonatan Ingi Jonsson’s tame deflected effort rolled straight into the path of Tryggvi Hrafn Haraldsson but his low effort was expertly turned over the crossbar by Balcombe.
Next opponents known
St Mirren will meet Norwegian side SK Brann in the third qualifying round of the Conference League.
The third-placed Eliteserien club triumphed over Go Ahead Eagles in an early kick-off to tee up a showdown with the Paisley Saints.
Bard Finne and Frederik Pallesen Knudsen were the heroes for the Norwegian side as a 2-1 victory on home soil was enough to progress after a goalless draw in the Netherlands last week.
Some 400 St Mirren supporters made the awkward and expensive trip to Reykjavik despite a small 200 official away tickets.
With the club riding on the crest of a wave, it’d be no surprise to see similar numbers journey to Scandinavia later this month.
