Killian Phillips at double as St Mirren advance in cup with win over Ayr

Killian Phillips’ first-half double set St Mirren on course for a 2-1 home victory over William Hill Championship side Ayr United as they booked their place in the second round of the Premier Sports Cup as Group D winners.

Scott Brown’s Honest Men also progressed as one of the three best runners-up despite losing their perfect record in the competition against their William Hill Premiership hosts.

Dunfermline were waiting in the wings hoping to profit from any Saints slip-up or an unlikely nine-goal defeat for Ayr, but Neil Lennon’s side are now out of the competition.

St Mirren and Ayr join top-flight contingent Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian, Dundee United, Hearts, Motherwell, Kilmarnock, Livingston and Falkirk plus Championship trio Partick Thistle, St Johnstone and Morton and League One outfit Alloa in the last 16.

Dundee – eliminated after losing their opening two fixtures – were the only top-flight side to fail to make it through the group stage.

St Mirren, who gave a debut to on-loan Wycombe keeper Shamal George, knew they needed some kind of positive result to ensure they did not follow the Dee in crashing out at the first hurdle.

A win would secure top spot in the group while a penalty shootout victory following a draw would have been enough to take Stephen Robinson’s side through as one of the best runners-up.

Any tension in the Buddies camp was eased in the 16th minute when they went ahead after Phillips fired home Roland Idowu’s cutback from 15 yards out.

The recently-capped Republic of Ireland midfielder doubled his tally in the 38th minute when he turned home another Idowu delivery from just outside the six-yard box.

Ayr pulled one back in the 64th minute when Kevin Holt headed home Dom Thomas’ corner to ensure a nervy finale for the hosts, but in the end both sides made it into the last 16.