St Mirren brushed aside Ayr United as they coasted into the last-16 of the Scottish Cup in Ayrshire.
Backed by an impressive near-2,000 travelling support, the Buddies raced into an early lead courtesy of Kyle McAllister's clinical back post finish.
The Saints were dominant in the first half and deservedly doubled their lead when Jay Henderson cleverly slipped in Greg Kiltie, who curled home a sumptuous strike to bag his first goal for the club.
The Honest Men put up more of a fight in the second half, with substitute Tomi Adeloye narrowly heading wide late on.
But Jim Goodwin's side held firm to bag a clean sheet as they took a positive first step in the competition, with the draw for the next round taking place after the Celtic - Alloa Athletic game this evening.
Jamie McGrath was again nowhere to be seen for the visitors, with his future at the club continuing to look extremely uncertain.
Eamonn Brophy and Alan Power, who both impressed in the Buddies 2-1 victory over Dundee United, dropped out of the starting XI to the bench, with Kristian Dennis and Kyle McAllister starting in their place.
Former Saints centre back Jack Baird was at the heart of the Honest Men's defence, with veteran Michael Moffat leading the line.
The hosts raced out of the traps with James Maxwell sending the Saints an early warning shot, skewing narrowly wide in front of a packed away stand within the first minute.
The Buddies quickly gained control of the tie when Ethan Erhahon picked out Scott Tanser in space on the left wing.
The full-back delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post, with Kyle McAllister ghosting in to nod home a settling opener.
With the deadlock broken early St Mirren looked to take the sting out of the tie having silenced the home crowd.
McAllister was thoroughly enjoying his rare start, linking up with Greg Kiltie brilliantly on the right flank. On one such occasion Kiltie sent in a teasing cross to the back post that was nervously scrambled wide by the Ayr defence as Joe Shaughnessy nodded goalwards.
Connor Ronan almost bettered his incredible strike against Rangers with an ambitious half-volley from distance that fizzed narrowly past the post, with keeper Aidan McAdams rooted to the spot.
St Mirren were in total control and doubled their lead before the half hour mark in superb style. Teenager Jay Henderson split the defence with an excellent pass to pick out Kiltie, who steadied himself with one touch before curling expertly past McAdams to net his first goal for the Paisley club.
St Mirren were claiming for a penalty when Sean McGinty barged into Kristian Dennis, with referee Dickinson waving away the protests.
Ayr United were struggling to match their Premiership opponents, with Ryan Gondoh's comically bad effort almost ending up nearer the corner flag than troubling Jak Alnwick.
The Buddies should have made it three before the break when McAllister skinned Baird and put the ball on a plate for Dennis. He could only produce an Ayr shot, much to the delight of the home fans behind the goal.
The Buddies cruised into half-time, with Jim Goodwin only hoping for more of the same after the break.
The hosts looked to have settled themselves at the break, enjoying more possession in the early stages of the second half.
Tanser fired well wide before Patrick Reading's cross was deflected behind by Ethan Erhahon, with Alnwick watching anxiously on as the bail sailed just over the bar.
Erhahon was replaced shortly after by Ryan Flynn, with the midfielder exiting the field having picked up a slight knock.
Ronan almost made it three and easy for the Saints when his fierce strike from the edge of the box drew an expert save from McAdams.
The Ayr United keeper was getting busier as the half went on, with the stopper called into action yet again to deny Kiltie a brace as his close-range effort was parried wide.
Substitute Alex Greive made an instant impression, bursting down the right wing before setting up Kiltie who again went close. This time his shot trundled agonisingly wide of the left hand post.
Tomi Adeloye went closest to clawing one back for the hosts with quarter of an hour left on the clock as he powered a header narrowly wide from a corner, with Alnwick rooted to the spot.
Baird went into the book for hauling down Greive as the striker burst forward, with the recent addition again looking lively off the bench.
In the end St Mirren held on to pick up a clean sheet and seal a safe passage into the next round, making it back-to-back wins on the road.
