St Mirren 3 - 2 Hearts

St Mirren captured the Scottish Communities League Cup for the first time in their history after coming from behind to beat Hearts in one of the most dramatic finals witnessed at Hampden for many a year.

Ryan Stevenson opened the scoring for the Jambos with a drive in the 10th minute but in the 37th minute, against the run of play, Esmael Goncalves levelled from close range.

A minute into the second half veteran striker Steven Thompson converted a Paul Dummett cross before Conor Newton drove in number three.

Although Stevenson reduced the deficit with six minutes remaining to ensure a nervy ending, Danny Lennon's side held out.

It was an momentous Buddies victory that in truth looked unlikely for most of the first half as Hearts looked in complete control

However, that will not bother the thousands of Paisley Buddies who celebrated at the final whistle.

There was a massive Hearts support inside the national stadium but the smaller St Mirren contingent were just as noisy, creating a fabulous atmosphere at kick-off time.

St Mirren appeared to have survived some early pressure and as they worked their way into the game their first effort came in the eighth minute when a clever chip from Paul McGowan from the edge of the box sailed just past.

However, Hearts raced up the pitch moments later and scored.

Skipper Jim Goodwin's crunching tackle on Jambos striker Michael Ngoo saw the ball fall to Stevenson who faced up to Dummett outside the Buddies' box and he appeared to be the taking a little too much time to get his shot away.

There were five black and white jerseys around him when he eventually pulled the trigger and to the joy of the Jambos' supporters the ball nicked off Dummett before beating the flailing Samson.

The Paisley side looked gripped by nerves and unable to get any support to lone striker Thompson.

In the 20th minute the impressive Jamie Walker sent in a great cross from the left which took Samson out of the equation but Sutton was stretching and could only head the ball off the back post and behind.

The traffic remained mostly Paisley-bound.

In the 27th minute Samson had to react smartly to push away Kevin McHattie's in-swinging free-kick which evaded a clutch of players and almost sneaked in at the far post.

Then, Tynecastle midfielder Mehdi Taouil wriggled his way into the Saints box before sending a cross-cum-shot just past the far post, all of which meant Goncalves's equaliser in the 37th minute came as a surprise.

Thompson nipped in front of Gorgie stopper Danny Wilson sent Gary Teale racing down the right-wing with McHattie in his wake and when the former Derby winger cut the ball across goal the St Mirren forward, who had scored in the semi-final win over Celtic, stroked it into the empty net to change totally the complexion of the game.

As Hearts wobbled MacDonald had to race from his goal to thwart Teale as the Saints finished the half on top.

The second half was barely a minute old when Thompson fired St Mirren ahead.

Midfielder John McGinn fed Dummett on the left and when his cross came into the box the former Dundee United and Rangers striker beat Wilson to the ball before knocking it first-time past MacDonald.

Hearts were stunned but quickly responded. Walker fired a right-footed drive from 25 yards wide of the far post.

After good work by Taouil on the right-hand side, Samson had to make a point-blank save from Ngoo, who then headed McHattie's corner over the bar.

At the other end, as the game stretched, MacDonald blocked a close-range attempt by Thompson before midfielder Paul McGowan drove the rebound wide.

However, in the 66th minute Saints put one hand on the trophy when Newton played a one-two with Goncalves before breaking past the Hearts defence to power his shot past MacDonald.

It was a remarkable turnaround and it was Hearts' turn to look helpless.

Arvydas Novikovas replaced Walker, Jason Holt came on for Ngoo while Dale Carrick came on for Taouil.

Thompson made way for Sam Parkin and McGinn was replaced by Graham Carey, both substitutions eliciting a huge ovation from the St Mirren supporters.

Time was running out for Hearts but Samson made a good save from McHattie's drive with defender Marc McAusland making a great block to deny Ngoo from the rebound, before Stevenson clipped the bar from close range.

However, it was the former Ayr United player who gave the Edinburgh side a lifeline in the 84th minute when he took a Ngoo pass and screwed the ball past Samson and into the far corner.

As the tension became almost unbearable in the final moments Stevenson forced a save from Samson with an angled-drive before hitting the outside of the post from the rebound.

As Hearts pushed for extra time in the three minutes added, the St Mirren fans urged the final whistle to arrive and when it did, the roar reached all the way to Paisley.

The referee blows for the end of the match.

Andy Webster gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Graham Carey. John Sutton goes into the book. Direct free kick taken by Graham Carey.
93

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
92

Unfair challenge on David van Zanten by Michael Ngoo results in a free kick. Craig Samson takes the direct free kick.
91

Esmael Goncalves goes off and Lee Mair comes on.
91

Ryan Stevenson takes a shot. Save by Craig Samson. Shot by Ryan Stevenson from inside the box hits the post.
88

Shot from outside the area by Jason Holt misses to the left of the target.
87

Corner taken short by Esmael Goncalves, Graham Carey decides to take a short corner.
85

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Esmael Goncalves by Dylan McGowan. Direct free kick taken by Graham Carey.
85

Ryan Stevenson gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. St Mirren 3-2 Hearts.Assist by Michael Ngoo.
84

Ryan Stevenson takes a shot.
83

Kevin McHattie takes a shot. Save by Craig Samson. Ryan Stevenson receives a yellow card for dissent. Caution for Gary Teale.
81

Graham Carey replaces John McGinn.
80

(Hearts) makes a substitution, with Dale Carrick coming on for Mehdi Taouil.
79

Steven Thompson goes off and Sam Parkin comes on.
76

Jim Goodwin fouled by Michael Ngoo, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Craig Samson.
75

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on John Sutton by Jim Goodwin. Free kick crossed by Kevin McHattie.
74

Jason Holt fouled by Conor Newton, the ref awards a free kick. Mehdi Taouil restarts play with the free kick.
73

Unfair challenge on Dylan McGowan by John McGinn results in a free kick. Andy Webster restarts play with the free kick.
72

Handball by Michael Ngoo. Free kick taken by Craig Samson.
71

Unfair challenge on Mehdi Taouil by Jim Goodwin results in a free kick. Kevin McHattie takes the free kick.
70

Foul by Michael Ngoo on Paul McGowan, free kick awarded. Booking for Michael Ngoo for unsporting behaviour. Jason Holt comes on in place of Darren Barr. Craig Samson takes the direct free kick.
68

Danny Wilson challenges Esmael Goncalves unfairly and gives away a free kick. David van Zanten takes the free kick.
67

Conor Newton fires in a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. St Mirren 3-1 Hearts.Assist by Esmael Goncalves.
65

Darren Barr concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul McGowan. Paul McGowan takes the direct free kick.
64

Andy Webster concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Thompson. Paul Dummett restarts play with the free kick.
64

Jim Goodwin fouled by Ryan Stevenson, the ref awards a free kick. Arvydas Novikovas comes on in place of Jamie Walker. Craig Samson takes the direct free kick.
63

Steven Thompson is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Danny Wilson.
59

Paul McGowan produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the target.
56

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Gary Teale.
56

Mehdi Taouil takes a shot. Save by Craig Samson.
54

Corner taken by Kevin McHattie, Michael Ngoo has a header from inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.
52

Free kick awarded for a foul by David van Zanten on Jamie Walker. Kevin McHattie crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing.
52

Mehdi Taouil fouled by Paul McGowan, the ref awards a free kick. Mehdi Taouil restarts play with the free kick.
52

Jamie Walker has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses right.
50

Kevin McHattie takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Marc McAusland. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kevin McHattie, clearance made by Gary Teale.
48

Steven Thompson grabs a goal from inside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. St Mirren 2-1 Hearts.Assist on the goal came from Paul Dummett.
45

The match restarts for the second half.

The whistle is blown to end the first half.

The referee blows for offside. Jamie MacDonald restarts play with the free kick.
45

Effort on goal by Michael Ngoo from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.
44

The offside flag is raised against Esmael Goncalves. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.
43

The assistant referee flags for offside against Gary Teale. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
43

John Sutton is caught offside. Craig Samson restarts play with the free kick.
39

Esmael Goncalves is cautioned by the ref for dissent. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan Stevenson by John McGinn. The ball is delivered by Kevin McHattie, John Sutton produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.
38

Esmael Goncalves finds the net with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. St Mirren 1-1 Hearts.Gary Teale provided the assist for the goal.
36

The assistant referee flags for offside against Esmael Goncalves. Andy Webster restarts play with the free kick.
35

Michael Ngoo gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marc McAusland. Craig Samson takes the direct free kick.
32

The ball is sent over by Esmael Goncalves, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Steven Thompson misses to the right of the target.
31

John McGinn takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Darren Barr makes a clearance. Corner taken by John McGinn from the right by-line, Jamie MacDonald makes a save.
30

The ball is swung over by Mehdi Taouil.
30

Michael Ngoo challenges Marc McAusland unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Craig Samson.
28

Jim Goodwin is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Kevin McHattie from right channel, Craig Samson makes a save.
27

Free kick awarded for a foul by John McGinn on Ryan Stevenson. Jamie MacDonald takes the direct free kick.
27

Foul by Dylan McGowan on Esmael Goncalves, free kick awarded. Jim Goodwin takes the direct free kick.
26

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie Walker from the left by-line, save made by Craig Samson.
25

Esmael Goncalves takes a shot. Jamie MacDonald makes a save.
25

Foul by Michael Ngoo on Jim Goodwin, free kick awarded. Craig Samson takes the free kick.
24

Foul by Marc McAusland on Jamie Walker, free kick awarded. Jamie Walker crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, save by Craig Samson.
23

John McGinn gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on John Sutton. Kevin McHattie takes the direct free kick.
23

Header from close range by John Sutton bounces off the post.
20

The assistant referee flags for offside against Esmael Goncalves. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
20

Darren Barr has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
18

Unfair challenge on Danny Wilson by Steven Thompson results in a free kick. Kevin McHattie takes the free kick.
17

Danny Wilson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steven Thompson. Direct free kick taken by Jim Goodwin.
16

David van Zanten gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kevin McHattie. Jamie MacDonald takes the direct free kick.
14

Ryan Stevenson fouled by Paul McGowan, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kevin McHattie. The assistant referee signals for offside against Steven Thompson. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.
11

A goal is scored by Ryan Stevenson from deep inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. St Mirren 0-1 Hearts.
9

Paul McGowan has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
8

David van Zanten concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie Walker. Free kick taken by Kevin McHattie.
6

Dylan McGowan concedes a free kick for a foul on Esmael Goncalves. Direct free kick taken by Jim Goodwin.
4

Foul by Paul McGowan on Ryan Stevenson, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by John Sutton.
2

The official flags Steven Thompson offside. Andy Webster takes the indirect free kick.
1

The referee gets the match started.

Taken from sportinglife.com