It was All Saints’ Day…..and night.
Before kick off, Buddies fans unfurled a banner urging Faith over Fear.
Throughout a terrific first half for their heroes, Mikael Mandron and Dan Nlundulu terrified the life out of Motherwell.
And, after surviving a late scare of their own, it’s St Mirren who’ll take their place in the Premier Sports Cup Final.
Mandron – on his 100th Saints appearance – opened the scoring before Nlundulu struck a stunning second just before the break.
Motherwell were much better in the second half with Callum Hendry giving them brief hope.
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But two goals in the closing four minutes obliterated any hopes of a fightback.
Saints sub Richard King made it three before Mandron added a brilliant fourth.
Clement Atless was British Prime Minister when Well last lifted the League Cup way back in 1950.
King George VI was still on the throne.
The Eagle comic had just been launched and Uruguay beat Brazil to win the World Cup.
For the Steelmen, the agonising 75-year wait continues.
Saints, of course, got their hands on the famous old trophy as recently as 2013.
Now, 12 years later, they’re just one win away from Hampden glory again.
Both teams arrived at the national stadium in good spirits.
A baffling VAR call had denied St Mirren a win over Hearts in midweek.
The draw, however, stopped the rot.
Robinson’s men had lost their last three leading up to their clash with the league leaders.
In delivering a much improved display, their timing couldn’t have been better.
Well too were on a high.
Back-to-back victories in the league had hoisted the Lanarkshire side up into fifth, level on points with Hibs.
Berthel Askou’s men have received plenty of plaudits this season and on the much bigger Hampden pitch there was an opportunity to build.
Yet St Mirren’s physicality, especially in the forward areas, would present its own challenges.
ST MIRREN RATINGS
SHAMAL GEORGE: Had a comfortable first half despite having to deal with a barrage of corners – four inside the first seven minutes. Could do nothing about Well’s late consolation goal. 7
MARCUS FRASER: Part of a solid three-man defence that held firm almost until the end despite Well bossing possession. Did really well keeping the talents of Ibrahim Said and Elliah Just relatively subdued. 7
ALEX GOGIC: A Warrior. Inspirational, charged-up display. Major part to play in the opening goal when he took the controversial free kick and won a flick on from the corner. Won every battle. 9
MIGUEL FRECKLETON: Passed a late fitness test and produced a classy performance. Followed and stifled Motherwell’s main creative threats and strolled through the game. Only just behind Gogic in terms of top organising and cajoling. 8
JAYDEN RICHARDSON: Like Gogic, the wing back returned from midweek suspension and found plenty of joy in an attacking threat galloping down the right flank. But also stuck to his defensive guns. 7
KILLIAN PHILLIPS: Typified Saints’ battling spirit. Steamed and snapped into challenge after challenge, dug in the centre of the park and tidy on the ball when St Mirren attacked at pace. Hit bar. 7
KEANU BACCUS: A key player in that Saints midfield and although perhaps not as eye-catching as Phillips and O’Hara in terms of bite, composed and took the sting out of the game when needed. 7
MARK O’HARA: St Mirren captain and another one who could be proud of his shift in the engine room. The ex-Motherwell man did the gritty, hard work and was composed on the ball. 7
DECLAN JOHN: Another big success for Saints. They exploited their width and ended up terrifying Well down the flanks. Plenty of runs down the left which caused Well all sorts of issues. 7
DAN NLUNDULU: Was a constant threat with his physical presence and pace which the Well defence struggled to deal with and produced a top drawer finish worthy of the final itself when he lashed home. 7
MIKAEL MANDRON: Sparked the semi-final into life with a brilliantly composed finish from a corner when he controlled a flick-on with his thigh and then clinically volleyed home. Second the icing on cake. 8
SUBS:
JONAH AYUNGA (for Dan Nlundulu, 63) 5. Gave Saints even more physicality.
LIAM DONNELLY (for Keanu Baccus, 70) 2. Added late steel.
RICHARD KING (for Jayden Richardson, 70) 2. Netted St Mirren’s third goal.
CONOR McMENAMIN (for Mark O’Hara 88) 1.
SCOTT TANSER (for Declan John, 88) 1.
Mandron and Nlundulu both started for Saints, with Liam Gordon and Paul McGinn preferred in defence over Stephen Welsh for the Steelmen.
Both sets of supporters were praying they’d be back here in a month’s time.
At the interval it was the travelling Paisley contingent that found themselves in dreamland.
Two goals to the good and the game-plan working to perfection.
For all their possession, Motherwell hadn’t really threatened Shamal George’s goal, while at the other end St Mirren had been utterly ruthless.
Berthel Askou’s side appealed for an early penalty when Elijah Just’s effort deflected off the arm of Keanu Baccus.
The Saints defender knew nothing about it and play was waved on.
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos then headed over after rising highest to meet an Elliot Watt fre–kick.
It was half a chance.
Just then did well to create some space before slipping the ball inside to Tawanda Maswanhise.
His effort flashed right across St Mirren’s goal with no-takers for the Steelmen.
Motherwell ratings
Calum Ward – No chance with Mikael Mandron’s opener, beaten by the sheer power of Dan Nlundulu’s stunning second but an absolute howler from the Well keeper to concede Richard King’s third. 4
Johnny Koutroumbis – Spent more time than he would have liked on the back foot as he had to deal with the dangerous forward runs of Saints wing-back Declan John. Caught out of position several times. 4
Liam Gordon – Struggled to cope with St Mirren’s front two and lacked his usual physical assurance. Failed to reappear for the second half as he was replaced by Celtic loanee Stephen Welsh. 4
Paul McGinn – Like his central defensive partner Gordon, the Well skipper had real problems dealing with the imposing presence of Mandron and Nlundulu. Gave the ball away cheaply at times. 4
Emmanuel Longelo – The left-back is usually one of Motherwell’s most potent attacking weapons but was successfully pinned back by Saints for long spells on this occasion. Weak challenge gifted fourth goal to Mandron. 4
Lukas Fadinger – Largely anonymous display by the Austrian in a midfield battle which Saints won hands-down. Like too many of his team-mates, was off the pace when it mattered most. 4
Elliot Watt – Unlucky break for the midfielder when his attempted clearance fell to Nlundulu for St Mirren’s second. Tidy in possession otherwise and stung George’s hands with 25 yarder after the break. 6
Tawanda Maswanhise – Guilty of poor decision making when he got into dangerous areas. Missed a glorious chance to pull one back for Well just before the hour mark when he slashed a shot wide. 4
Elijah Just – The New Zealand playmaker has been one of Motherwell’s standout performers this season but, apart from a couple of classy moments which came to nothing, he lacked his usual sparkle here. 5
Ibrahim Said – A real off day for the Nigerian attacker who was comfortably contained by the St Mirren defence. Cut a frustrated figure and could have no complaints when he was hooked in the 57th minute. 4
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos – Came close with early header and forced a save from Shamal George with a shot from distance. Left isolated too often and was replaced midway through the second half. 4
Subs: Stephen Welsh (for Gordon 46) – unable to stem tide as Saints romped it 4; Calum Slattery (for Said 57) – brought energy and had good effort saved by George 5; Tom Sparrow (for Koutroumbis 66) – great cross for Hendry’s goal gave Well hope 5; Callum Hendry (for Stamatelopoulos 66) – fine striker’s finish to pull goal back 5; Regan Charles-Cook (for Maswanhise 76) – too late to make impact 3.
ends
With 25 minutes on the clock, Robinson’s men stormed in front.
The Motherwell players complained bitterly to referee Don Robertson that the ball was still moving when Alex Gogic took the quick free-kick.
But they only had themselves to blame when they failed miserably to defend the resultant corner.
Gogic peeled off at the near post, flicking John’s corner into the path of Mandron.
The former Motherwell striker took a touch before burying the ball past Calum Ward.
George had to get down quickly to deny Stamatelopoulos a quick-fire equaliser.
Mandron then tried one from distance with Ward well off his line.
After a cagey start, the game was suddenly wide open.
If there had been some complaints about St Mirren’s opener, there was no argument with their second just five minutes from the break.
John – as he’d done for much of the first half – burst down the left flank.
He fed Mandron who tried to play it first time.
Watt got across, but his touch only succeeded carrying the ball into the path of Nlundulu who looked up before smashing a truly stunning strike past the helpless Ward.
From a defensive point of view, it was another poor goal for Well to lose.
Berthel Askou’s side were on the ropes and Jayden Richardson should have at least hit the target after cutting back inside in first half stoppage time.
Welsh was introduced at the start of the second half as Motherwell tried to spark something from somewhere.
There was certainly more urgency to their play, but St Mirren were already looking dangerous on the break.
Watt tested George from distance as the Steelmen at last began to ask some questions of the St Mirren defence.
Maswanhise should have done so much better after Just’s clever flick presented him with a clear sight of goal.
Callum Slattery was then introduced much to the delight of the Well fans.
Just blasted wide, but it was better from a Motherwell perspective.
But if they were going to get themselves back into this semi-final they had to find a goal.
With 30 minutes left, St Mirren were still in complete control of this cup tie.
George saved superbly to deny Slattery, before Maswanhise was inches away from reaching Just’s cross.
Still it wouldn’t fall for Well.
At the other end the post kept their fading hopes alive after Watt had been caught in possession – Mandron so close to his second.
Berthel Askou’s side were wide open at the back as they threw almost everyone forward in search of a lifeline.
With eight minutes left they finally got one.
Three Well subs combined with Regan Charles-Cook finding Tom Sparrow.
His cross was swept home by Hendry.
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But any hopes of a comeback vanished three minutes later when King barged his way through the Motherwell defence to score St Mirren’s third.
Mandron’s second of the game merely rubbed salt into Well’s gaping wounds.
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