ST MIRREN rounded off their Betfred Cup campaign with a 5-0 thumping of Airdrie on Saturday.

With both sides already eliminated from the competition, Saints would have been forgiven for having one eye on the league opener against Falkirk on Saturday.

But Saints showed intent from the off and lifted the gloom over the Paisley 2021 Stadium from the Partick Thistle thrashing by dishing out their own hammering.

A Kieran MacDonald own goal and a Gavin Reilly strike gave Saints a 2-0 lead at half-time. Andy Ryan put a penalty wide for Airdrie before Reilly had his spot kick penalty saved by Rohan Ferguson.

But the former Hearts striker soon made amends by netting his second before Lewis Morgan netted a spectacular strike and Cammy Smith rounded off the scoring in the dying minutes.

St Mirren went on the front foot early and forced the play, they got their reward after nine minutes. Stelios whipped in a dangerous cross from the left which left MacDonald unsure of whether to attempt a clearance or let the ball run past him, he attempted a clearance but could only divert it past Ferguson and into the net.

The League One side, without a manager and facing financial uncertainty off the field, were equally rudderless on the pitch as they showed little in the way of resistance in opening period, Gary MacKenzie went close for the Paisley side as he thundered a header wide from Ian McShane’s corner.

Reilly was next to connect with a McShane cross but his headers looped over after 24 minutes. McShane’s crosses were proving a real source of chances for Saints, Jack Baird was next to be supplied and his header looked destined for the back of net, but Ferguson did well to claw the ball away.

The second goal duly arrived in the 31st minute. Stephen McGinn chipped a ball to the back post and found John Sutton who was afforded the freedom of Paisley in the box and unselfishly headed down for strike partner Reilly for a simple sidefoot finish.

The Diamonds were given a chance to pull one back five minutes into the second half when MacKenzie was adjudged to have pulled down Dean Cairns. The Saints defender lost the plot with referee Craig Napier at the decision and was booked.

Ryan stepped up but fired a poor penalty wide of Craig Samson’s left post.

Saints were given their own chance from the spot after 66 minutes when substitute Ross Stewart went down under a challenge as he tried to head in Morgan’s cross.

Reilly stepped up but didn’t fare too much better than Ryan as he hit the target but it was a tame effort which Ferguson comfortably held.

But Reilly only had to wait a few minutes for his redemption. His header from a looping cross was difficult for Ferguson to deal with, but he thought he has managed to claw it clear, however the linesman ruled the ball had crossed the line.

Samson earned his crust with 10 minutes to go as he made two smart stops from headers, first from David Brownlie and then from Ryan, both set up by Ryan Conroy corner kicks.

But the Buddies put the icing on the cake when Morgan took a ball over the top on the half volley from the edge of the box and arrowed it into the far corner.

Saints weren’t finished there as Smith picked up the ball on the edge of the area and dribbled past a challenge before hitting a left footed strike in off the post.

St Mirren: Samson, Irvine, MacKenzie (Buchanan, 67), Baird, Stelios, Smith, McShane, McGinn, Morgan, Reilly (Kirkpatrick, 76), Sutton (Stewart, 66).