Saints pull off miracle comeback in Paisley

St Mirren fought back from three goals down to beat East Kilbride 4-3 in a breathless Premier Sports Cup tie at SMiSA Stadium on 22 July 2026. The Saints claimed the win with a stoppage-time strike from Malik Dijksteel, completing a stunning second-half turnaround.

How the comeback unfolded

East Kilbride stunned St Mirren early, taking a 3-0 lead inside 55 minutes. Cami Elliott opened the scoring from the spot on 25 minutes after Samuel Ramos was penalised for a foul on Sean Fagan. Elliott doubled the visitors’ advantage eight minutes later, deflecting Finlay Gray’s shot past Jacob Chapman. Craig McGuffie made it 3-0 from the spot on 55 minutes after Richard King was penalised.

St Mirren looked shell-shocked in the first half, with few clear chances. Jalmaro Calvin missed a gilt-edged opportunity, while Henry Fieldson saw his effort drift wide. The introduction of substitutes changed the game. Eseosa Sule nearly scored within 30 seconds of his debut but was flagged offside. On 59 minutes, Sule converted a penalty awarded for a foul on him in the box.

Ryan Carr equalised on 69 minutes after Malik Dijksteel’s cross caused chaos in the East Kilbride box. Killian Phillips restored parity on 77 minutes with a delicate chip over the keeper. The winner arrived in the 90th minute when Dijksteel cut inside and fired into the far corner.

Where it leaves St Mirren

The result keeps St Mirren unbeaten in the Premier Sports Cup this season with nine points from three wins. Mick Kennedy’s side survived their toughest test yet, having eased past Dumbarton and Cove Rangers earlier. The comeback underlined their resilience but also exposed first-half frailties.

Kennedy’s side were passive and disjointed for large spells, with defence and attack disconnected. The introduction of Sule, Carr and Dijksteel turned the tide. The subs combined for the second and third goals, while Phillips’ finish completed the recovery.

What comes next

Craig McLeish’s side showed character to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The manager will hope the scare sparks improvements. St Mirren now prepare for their next challenge, with the focus on tightening up early spells and converting chances more consistently.