St Mirren spark missing against Brann as Ellery Balcombe keeps Conference League flame burning - 3 talking points

St Mirren battled back from a goal down to earn a dramatic Europa Conference League draw against Brann at the SMISA Stadium.

Felix Myhre put Brann ahead on 75 minutes before Toyosi Olusanya equalised in stoppage time to effectively make it a winner takes all game next Thursday. The Buddies opened their Scottish Premiership campaign with a 3-0 win on Sunday against Hibs, carrying on the feel good factor from that aggregate 4-1 victory in the second qualifying round over Valur last week. Meanwhile, the Bergen team were involved in a cracker and beat Stromsgodset in the Eliteserien 3-2 at the weekend, having got the better of Go Ahead Eagles to set up this tie at the SMISA Stadium.

The first real chance fell to Niklas Castro after 12 minutes after he got played in nicely put his attempted lob was easily dealt with by Ellery Balcombe. Straight afterwards Saints had an opportunity but Jonah Ayunga just couldn’t sort his feet out.

But it was the Balcombe show in the first half for sure, the keeper bailing the hosts out on many occasions. Full back Joachim Soltvedt saw a strike turned around the post in stoppage times by the on loan Bees’ goalie. Balcombe was again heavily involved at the start of the second half with a rare mistake, bringing down an attacker outside the box, but he punched the incoming free kick back out of his box.

Myhre opened the scoring with a low drive under Balcombe with 15 minutes remaining as the Paisley resistance was finally broken. But then popped up the St Mirren’s man for late goals. Sub Olusanya who diverted a recycled corner in just as the game ticked onto stoppage time.

Saints have started the season in fine fashion beating both Valur and Hibs, netting seven times across the two matches.