KILLIAN'S TWO GOOD

Phillips double sees off Ayr

- By Anthony Brown

KILLIAN PHILLIPS' first-half double set St Mirren on course for a 2-1 home victory over 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 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 topflight Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs, 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.