GLASGOW: St Mirren came from behind to create history as they clinched the Scottish League Cup for the first time following a 3-2 win over Hearts at Hampden.
Hearts took the lead through a deflected Ryan Stevenson shot in the 10th minute.But they failed to take their chances and St Mirren equalised against the run of play in the 37th minute through on-loan Esmael Goncalves.
Steven Thompson fired St Mirren into the lead 50 seconds after the restart before Conor Newton made it 3-1 with a fierce 66th minute strike. Stevenson hit the bar before grabbing his second of the game in the 85th minute to give Hearts hope.
But the Tynecastle club, who had hoped to give their fans something to cheer following a turbulent season involving financial difficulties off the pitch and poor displays on it, were unable to force extra time.
The result makes up for the heartache suffered by St Mirren in the 2010 final when they were defeated by nine-man Rangers and sees them collect their first trophy since their 1987 Scottish Cup win.
Hearts had all the pressure in the opening stages and Stevenson handed Hearts the lead with a fine finish.
The ball broke to the midfielder at the edge of the box and he took his time before firing an angled shot beyond Craig Samson with the help of a deflection off Paul Dummett.
Hearts were left to rue their missed chances when St Mirren equalised in the 37th minute.
Thompson fed Gary Teale down the right wing and he raced into the box and squared for Goncalves to side foot home the equaliser.
It took just St Mirren just 50 seconds after the restart to take the lead for the first time in the final through Thompson.
Dummett sent in a low cross from the left and Thompson, who scored the winner in the semi-final against Celtic, got in front of Danny Wilson to lift the ball high into the net at the front post.
St Mirren dealt another blow to Hearts’ chances when Newton made it 3-1 in the 66th minute.
Stevenson gave Hearts hope a minute later when he made it 3-2 with a low angled strike from just inside the box. AFP
