2024/25 UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE

May 26, 2025May 27, 2025 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE 2024/25 2nd Round Qualifier

25th July 2024
CONFERENCE LEAGUE 2nd Round, 1st Leg
Valur 0-0 St. Mirren

Match Details

1st August 2024
CONFERENCE LEAGUE 2nd Round, 2nd Leg
St. Mirren 4-1 Valur

Match Details

Saints win 4-1 on aggregate

UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE 2024/25 3rd Round Qualifier

8th August 2024
CONFERENCE LEAGUE 3rd Round,1st Leg
St. Mirren 1-1 SK Brann

Match Details

15th August 2024
CONFERENCE LEAGUE 3rd Round,2nd Leg
SK Brann 3-1 St. Mirren

Match Details

Saints lose 4-2 on aggregate

15/08/2024 – SK Brann (A)

May 26, 2025May 28, 2025 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

UEFA Conference League, 3rd Qualifying Round, L2
15th August 2024
Brann Stadion, Bergen, Norway

SK Brann 3-1 St. Mirren

Soltvedt 5
IACOVITTI 74
Myhre 86
Heggebo 89

ATT: 14,500 (750 away)

Referee: R. Gidzhenov (Bulgaria)

VAR: N/A

Saints exit Europe due to 2 late goals conceded in Bergen, during one of the wettest nights any of the 750 Saints fans present will ever likely experience.
With the season a further week on, the gap in match sharpness evident from the first leg, was closed almost completely, and this game much more even.
The visitors started brightly, but conceded against the run of the play after only 5 minutes when Soltvedt fired home.
Undeterred, Saints continue to press and create chances, with Olusnaya causing considerable problems with his pace and impressive link up play.
As the match hung in the balance, Saints made a number of changes after the hour mark, and two of these players combined to level the tie, when a brilliant Fraser Taylor corner was thumped into net by a towering header from Alex Iacovitti.
For the next ten minutes Saints pushed for a winner, with Brann clearly rattled, and after brilliant play from Mandron, Olusnaya slipped at the back post on the sodden pitch with the goal at his mercy from the cross.
A few minutes later, Myhre scored a second for Brann, and then on full time a third scrappy goal was forced home to seal the tie and knock Saints out, despite a fine display in the mountain city.
Brann would be knocked out in the next and final qualifying round by Astana of Kazakhstan.

No	SK BRANN	No	SAINTS	RATING
1	Mathias Dyngeland	1	Ellery Balcombe	7
2	Thore Pedersen	19	Shaun Rooney	8
3	Fredrik Knudsen (C)	22	Marcus Fraser (C)	7
4	Ruben Kristiansen	13	Alex Gogić	6
5	Joachim Soltvedt	5	Richard Taylor 71	8
6	Sander Kartum 73	21	Jaden Brown	7
7	Emil Kornvig	15	Caolan Boyd-Munce 53	6
8	Ole Didrik Blomberg	23	Dennis Adeniran	7
9	Felix Myhre	12	Roland Idowu 71	7
10	Bard Finne 78	7	Jonah Ayunga 71	6
11	Niklas Castro	20	Toyosi Olusanya 79	9
SUBS
12	Mads Sande 73	4	Alex Iacovitti 71	7
13	Aune Heggebo 78	8	Oisin Smyth 53	7
14	Ulrik Mathisen	9	Mikael Mandron 71	7
15	Sakarias Opsahl	30	Fraser Taylor 71	6
16	Martin Borsheim	14	James Scott 79	7
17	Eirik Johansen	42	Elvis Bwomono
18	Magnus Warming	3	Scott Tanser
19	Eivind Helland	27	Peter Urminský
29	Rasmus Holten	26	Luke Kenny
–		31	Shay Kelly
–		33	Evan Mooney
–		34	Ethan Sutherland
–		6	Mark O’Hara (C)	INJURED
–		10	Conor McMenamin	INJURED
–		11	Greg Kiltie	INJURED

BRANN	TEAM STATS	SAINTS
13	SHOTS	12
3	ON TARGET	3
58%	POSSESSION	42%
5	CORNERS	7
7	FOULS	14
3	YELLOW CARD	4
0	RED CARD	0
2	OFFSIDE	1

THE TRIP

Stadium: Brann Stadion, Bergen, Norway
2024 Capacity: 17,317
Record Attendance: 24,800 (1961)
2024 City Population: 295,000
Distance From Paisley (air): 475 miles – 1h 30 mins flight
Distance From Paisley (road and sea): 1,666 miles – 33 hours
Record at Stadium: P1 L1

THE STADIUM

08/08/2024 – SK BRANN (H)

May 26, 2025May 28, 2025 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

UEFA Conference League, 3rd Qualifying Round, L1
8th August 2024
SMISA Stadium, Paisley

St. Mirren 1-1 SK Brann

Myhre 75
OLUSANYA 90

ATT: 7,023 (185 away)

Referee: Matthew De Garbielle (Malta)

VAR: N/A

In a highly anticipated match against the Norwegian title challengers, Saints record an impressive draw, despite being second best for long periods of the match as the lack of games played compared to the opposition is at times starkly obvious during a frantic match.
The Norwegians show a technical superiority from early in the game as they keep possession for long periods, with Saints unable to get a foothold in the match.
Ellery Balcombe has a string of fine saves to deny the visitors, but is finally beaten with 15 minutes remaining from a corner kick, following an incredible double block and save from Gogic and the keeper led to the flag kick.
This goal finally brought Saints to life, and as the Norwegians tired and entered a period of gamesmanship with time wasting and feigning cramp, the home side finally put the visitors under sustained pressure.
With another home sell out crowd willing them on, Toyosi Olusanya equalised in the final minute of normal time, when he knocked home a James Scott cut back, sending the fans and players wild.
Brann protested the goal vigorously as Saints had failed to return the ball from a throw in after the visitors had kicked the ball out for a player to get treatment for cramp, however it was clear by this point this was a tactic designed to waste time and Saints had decided to play on.

No	SAINTS	RATING	SK BRANN	No
1	Ellery Balcombe	9	Mathias Dyngeland	1
19	Shaun Rooney	8	Thore Pedersen	2
22	Marcus Fraser (C)	7	Fredrik Knudsen (C)	3
13	Alex Gogić	8	Ruben Kristiansen	4
5	Richard Taylor 69	6	Joachim Soltvedt	5
21	Jaden Brown 63	5	Sander Kartum 89	6
15	Caolan Boyd-Munce	6	Emil Kornvig	7
8	Oisin Smyth	6	Ole Didrik Blomberg 89	8
12	Roland Idowu 63	5	Felix Myhre	9
7	Jonah Ayunga 69	6	Bard Finne 79	10
9	Mikael Mandron 63	8	Niklas Castro 76	11
SUBS
4	Alex Iacovitti 69	7	Mads Sande 76	12
23	Dennis Adeniran 63	7	Aune Heggebo 79	13
20	Toyosi Olusanya 63	8	Ulrik Mathisen 89	14
14	James Scott 68	8	Sakarias Opsahl 89	15
42	Elvis Bwomono		Martin Borsheim
3	Scott Tanser 63	7	Eirik Johansen	16
27	Peter Urminský		Magnus Warming	17
24	Lewis Jamieson		Eivind Helland	18
26	Luke Kenny		Rasmus Holten	19
31	Shay Kelly
33	Evan Mooney
34	Ethan Sutherland
30	Fraser Taylor
6	Mark O’Hara (C)	INJURED
10	Conor McMenamin	INJURED
11	Greg Kiltie	INJURED

SAINTS	TEAM STATS	BRANN
4	SHOTS	12
2	ON TARGET	9
41%	POSSESSION	59%
3	CORNERS	4
11	FOULS	5
6	YELLOW CARD	0
0	RED CARD	0
1	OFFSIDES	2

01/08/2024 – VALUR (H)

May 26, 2025May 28, 2025 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

UEFA Conference League, 2nd Qualifying Round, L2
1st August 2024
SMISA Stadium, Paisley

St. Mirren 4-1 Valur

ROONEY 16
OLUSANYA 52
O’HARA 65
T. Haraldsson 75 (p)
IACOVITTI 87

ATT: 6,715

Referee: Mikkel Redder (Denmark)

VAR: N/A

Saints record their biggest European win to date, with a comprehensive victory over their Icelandic opponents.
Shaun Rooney scores his first goal for the club on his debut, heading home a deep O’Hara corner after 16 minutes.
Toyosi Olusanya doubles Saints lead just after half-time when Roland Idowu unselfishly gives him an open goal after the Icelandic offside trap had failed.
Man of the match Mark O’Hara further increases the lead 10 minutes later, when he volleys home spectacularly from the edge of the box.
The sell out crowd (home end only) witnesses the hard working part timers get a goal back from the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining, but the carnival like atmosphere inside the stadium can not be dampened.
Alex Iacovitti completes the scoring late in the match, also on his debut, when he knocks home after Ayunga was denied by Schram, giving the Paisley men a record European victory.

No	SAINTS	RATING	VALUR	NO
1	Ellery Balcombe	8	F. Schram	1
19	Shaun Rooney 71	8	H. Gunnarsson	2
22	Marcus Fraser	7	L. Heimisson	3
13	Alex Gogić	8	B. Antonssonn	4
5	Richard Taylor 71	8	J. Jonsson	5
21	Jaden Brown	8	P. Pedersen 81	6
6	Mark O’Hara (C)	9	K. Sigurdsson	7
23	Dennis Adeniran 71	8	S. Larusson 62	8
12	Roland Idowu 89	8	T. Haraldsson	9
7	Jonah Ayunga	8	J. Palsson	10
20	Toyosi Olusanya 71	8	G. Tryggvason 32	11
SUBS
4	Alex Iacovitti 71	7	S. Agustsson	12
30	Fraser Taylor 89	6	O. Kristinsson	13
7	Oisin Smyth 71	7	B. Saevarsson 32	14
14	James Scott 71	7	O. Omarsson	15
42	Elvis Bwomono 71	7	E. Helgason
3	Scott Tanser		O. Finsen 81	16
27	Peter Urminský		H. Eyjolfsson	17
24	Lewis Jamieson		G. Unnarsson 62	18
26	Luke Kenny		O. Stephensen	19
31	Shay Kelly
33	Evan Mooney
34	Ethan Sutherland
9	Mikael Mandron	INJURED
15	Caolan Boyd-Munce	INJURED
10	Conor McMenamin	INJURED
11	Greg Kiltie	INJURED

SAINTS	TEAM STATS	VALUR
12	SHOTS	6
6	ON TARGET	3
49%	POSSESSION	51%
12	CORNERS	2
6	FOULS	7
0	YELLOW CARD	1
0	RED CARD	0
4	OFFSIDES	4

25/07/2024 (Valur A)

October 12, 2024May 28, 2025 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

UEFA Conference League, 2nd Qualifying Round, L1
25th July 2024
Hlíðarendi Stadium, Reykjavik, Iceland

Valur 0-0 St. Mirren

A. Jóhannsson 81

ATT: 1,200

Referee: Damian Kos (Poland)

VAR: N/A

Saints play their first match in European competition since 1987, gaining a credible draw against the Icelandic title chasers who were halfway through their season.
Club debuts were given to goalkeeper Ellery Balacombe and midfielder Oisin Smyth who started, with Dennis Adeniran and Roland Idowu joining them from the bench.
Jaden Brown made his first start for the club after his loan from Lincoln City was made permanent, with James Scott appearing as a sub following his transfer from Exeter sign during the summer, also after a loan spell the previous season.
Saints were without the suspended Shaun Rooney, as well as injured trio Iacovitti, Kiltie, and McMenamin, however look very sharp despite lack of competitive action.
The visitors spurn multiple great opportunities to take a lead back to Paisley, however are content to take a draw in front of around a restricted 300 or so Saints fans in attendance.

No	VALUR	No	SAINTS	RATING
1	Schram	1	Ellery Balcombe	8
2	Gunnarsson 62	42	Elvis Bwomono	7
3	Helgason	22	Marcus Fraser	7
4	Antonssonn	13	Alex Gogić	8
5	Jonsson	5	Richard Taylor	8
6	Pedersen 84	21	Jaden Brown	8
7	Sigurdsson 73	6	Mark O’Hara (C)	7
8	Larusson	8	Oisin Smyth 57	6
9	Haraldsson 73	15	Caolan Boyd-Munce 17	6
10	Palsson	9	Mikael Mandron 68	6
11	Sigurdsson	20	Toyosi Olusanya 68	7
SUBS
12	Agustsson	23	Dennis Adeniran 17	7
13	Kristinsson	12	Roland Idowu 57	7
14	Saevarsson 62	7	Jonah Ayunga 68	7
15	Johannsson 73	14	James Scott 68	7
16	Tryggvason	3	Scott Tanser
17	Eyjolfsson	27	Peter Urminský
18	Unnarsson 84	24	Lewis Jamieson
19	Heimisson 73	26	Luke Kenny
20	Omarsson	30	Fraser Taylor
21	Stephensen	33	Evan Mooney
22	Finsen	34	Ethan Sutherland
–		31	Shay Kelly
–		19	Shaun Rooney	SUSP
–		4	Alex Iacovitti	INJURED
–		10	Conor McMenamin	INJURED
–		11	Greg Kiltie	INJURED

VALUR	TEAM STATS	SAINTS
12	SHOTS	14
9	ON TARGET	5
56%	POSSESSION	44%
7	FOULS	11
0	YELLOW CARD	3
1	RED CARD	0
2	OFFSIDES	1

THE TRIP

Stadium: Hlíðarendi, Reykjavik, Iceland
2024 Capacity: 2,465 (1,201 for UEFA competition)
Record Attendance: 18,243 (1968)
2024 City Population: 130,000
Distance From Paisley (air): 828.5 miles – 2h 25 mins flight
Distance From Paisley (road and sea): 2,691 miles – 100 hours (4 days 2 hours)
Record at Stadium: P1 D1