In a fourth round tie played at the Paisley 2021 Stadium, home goals from Lewis McLear and Jack Baird were enough to seal a deserved victory for the Buddies and put pay to the Light Blues’ dreams of lifting a trophy they last collected at this very venue back in 2014.
Right from the get-go, St Mirren were on top and only a superb last-ditch tackle from David Brownlie right on the edge of the area prevented Barry Cuddihy from going through on goal in the opening exchanges.
Lewis Morgan then tugged a shot wide of the target for the home side, while the brightest moment in an otherwise forgetful starting period for Rangers came when Jack Baird blocked a Ross Lyon effort on goal.
But it was he home side always looked the more likely to grab the advantage early-on, and sure enough, they did through Lewis McLear with Rangers caught napping down the right-hand side.
The lively Morgan was afforded far too much time to cross from that position and he picked out McLear who took his shot on first time and blasted the ball beyond the reach of Gers ‘keeper Robby McCrorie.
The visitors looked to respond to that blow firstly through Ryan Sinnamon who saw a low shot saved by goalkeeper Dan Wilks and then Dylan Dykes, who curled an effort in the direction of the top corner but it slipped just wide.
Into the second half, and the game continued in very much the same manner, with St Mirren well on top and creating the majority of the chances. Indeed, inside the opening minutes of the half both McCrorie brothers had to look lively with Ross firtly closing an angle on Lewis Morgan to ensure he shot wide and then Robby getting down to an effort from Baird.
That man Baird wasn’t to be denied however, and he made it 2-0 when he reacted quickest to a Kyle McAllister shot which cannoned off thee post to slide-in and hand his side a 2-0 win.
Ian Durrant’s side tried in vain to find a way back into the game, although but for a shot from Ryan Hardie that Wilks easily gathered and off-target efforts from Jordan Thompson and Jamie Barjonas, Rangers created very little in the way of goalscoring opportunities until the final minute of the game, as Ryan Hardie nipped in to pull a goal back.
Confusion at the back from the home side saw Wilks dally on the ball, allowing Hardie to rob him of the ball and fire into an empty net, but there was to be no late drama with St Mirren seeing out the injury time period with ease.
The under-20s now enjoy a break before jetting out to Valencia for warm weather training and two matches at the start of January.
RANGERS: Robby McCrorie, Mills, Brownlie, Ross McCrorie, Sinnamon, Thompson, Barjonas, Dykes (Walsh, 63), Roberts, Lyon (Burt, 63), Hardie.
SUBS NOT USED: Wright, Ashmore, Brandon.
ST MIRREN: Wilkes, Baird, Whyte, Stewart, Magennis, McDonald, Cuddihy, McAllister, Morgan, McLear, McGraith.
SUBS: Willison, Morrison, O’Keefe, Barrowman, MacPherson.