THE mind of a footballer is a complex and superstitious one and, over the years, players have gone to extreme lengths to try to gain an advantage in the build-up to a big match.

Chelsea's John Terry admits to having over 50 processes he must go through including sitting in the same seat on the team bus, Liverpool's Kolo Toure needs to be the last player to leave the Anfield tunnel while Malvin Kamara, the former Cardiff ace, has to watch the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory before every game as a special winning ritual.

However, these bizarre superstitions are not alien to the Scottish game. Just ask Jason Naismith.

The St Mirren defender was the hero on Saturday when his goal won back the Renfrewshire Cup for the Buddies in a tight encounter with Morton at Cappielow.

His 77th-minute strike, with the full-back flying in at the back post to knock in a Gregg Wylde cross, was enough to sink Jim Duffy's side who had created more than their fair share of chances in a rain-soaked battle.

Yet there could well be more to the 20-year-old's goal than simply just excellent timing and his composed finishing skills.

"It was brilliant to score the winner. I had a dream on Thursday night it was going to happen," explained Naismith.

"I told my dad and my best friend. The goal was for my friend, Jordan Keenan. It sounds bad but every time he goes out on the bevvy I score a goal, and he was out all day on Saturday.

"It happened against Dundee United when I scored my first goal, Inverness was the second and it happened again at the weekend.

"I've asked Jordan if he can keep a few nights out for later on in the season. I just hope his liver can take it. So that goal is for him."

While Mr Keenan sits down with the St Mirren fixture calendar to plan his next night on the tiles, Naismith will allow himself a brief moment to savour one of the highlights of his burgeoning career.

The Paisley-born defender was the first-ever player to be loaned from St Mirren to Morton when he enjoyed half a season under Allan Moore in 2012.

And as he looks to establish himself in the Saints first-team, Naismith admits scoring the goal to clinch the Renfrewshire Cup against his old side is a moment that will live long in the memory of him and his family.

"I'm a Paisley boy, so to score the winner in a cup final against our local rivals Morton meant a lot to me," he said.

"It will mean the world to my dad and my brother, who is away to Australia.

"They are both massive St Mirren fans and they told me before the match I'd better score.

"I didn't even see the goal go in. As soon as I hit it I thought it was heading towards the bottom corner but it was only when I heard the fans roar that I knew it had gone in.

"This type of game is always a bit different when you compare it to a normal pre-season game. The rivalry adds a bit of spice."

Morton boss Duffy declared himself satisfied with the application of his young team against their SPFL Premiership rivals, especially in a first half where Ton pegged back their visitors as Andy Barrowman looked a constant threat.

The one major down side was the injury to Stefan McCluskey, who went off with a dislocated shoulder.

But Duffy was keen to accentuate the positive, and said: "You would have thought it was a dramatic match at the end of the season where you are fighting for points rather than a pre-season game."