ST MIRREN left the Granite City last night with a precious point, despite enduring a pummelling at the hands of a rampant Aberdeen side.

Mark Reynolds had opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time while Peter Pawlett's strike early in the second half had simply underlined the ­superiority of Derek ­McInnes's free-flowing Dons team.

But goals from Callum Ball and a late penalty from Kenny McLean earned Tommy Craig's side just their fourth point of the season.

The Buddies gave Gregg Wylde a start for the injured Jeroen Tessalaar and while they were set-up to attack, they were clearly taxed by the energy of the Dons.

But it was Wylde's tenacity in the 17th minute that forced Ash Taylor, the Aberdeen centre-back into a mistake, offering the St Mirren winger a scoring chance he should have taken.

Instead he fired his shot off the legs of Aberedeen keeper Jamie Langfield.

Moments later, as John McGinn laid the ball off for McLean there were gasps of disbelief from the home support as the Paisley side's midfielder cracked a 30-yard strike off Langfield's crossbar, sending a message of intent to their opponents.

Yet, as most fans suspected, it was simply a matter of time until the Buddies caved-in, which they did seconds before the interval, Reynolds blasting home from close range.

The hosts increased their lead in the 55th minute as the Paisley defence were inadequate with their attempt to clear the danger presented by a Johnny Hayes cross, allowed Pawlett to drill home the loose ball from 16 yards.

Yet, as if to proclaim that they were not accepting defeat so readily, St Mirren raced up the pitch from the kick-off and Callum Ball finished off Wylde's cross to side-foot past Langfield.

Aberdeen's attacks continued, unabated, however, and twice Shaleum Logan hit spectacular strikes to no avail.

Then the moment that changed the game.

McGinn's speculative ball into the Aberdeen area was inexplicably handled by Reynolds, affording McLean the chance to deploy his expert shooting as his spot-kick left Langfield without a hope.