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St Mirren goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe has shrugged off furious SK Brann reactions over Toyosi Olusanya's late leveller in Paisley.

The on-loan Brentford keeper, 24, put in another impressive performance to keep his side hanging in there against the Norwegian club.

And his efforts were rewarded when sub Olusanya bundled home in the 90th minute to give St Mirren hope ahead of the return leg in Bergen next week.

The late goal wasn't without controversy, however, with Brann players and officials left reeling over the circumstances of the goal.

Brann had wanted St Mirren to give the ball back after it was knocked out of play when a player went down complaining of cramp. The hosts were unconvinced and played on, with the cramp incident viewed as a time-wasting tactic.

Around a minute after the throw-in debacle, St Mirren then won a corner where a looped ball back in would find James Scott to cross for Olusanya to score.

SK Brann chiefs were incredulous over the situation but Balcombe was unshaken when pressed on the matter by Norwegian journalists - as he batted away accusations the goal resulted from unfair play.

"The throw-in? We didn't score directly from it," said Balcombe. "It's not directly from the throw so...If it goes out of play it is a throw-in, you know what I mean. 

"I don't agree [that is was not fair play]. We didn't score directly from it."

Balcombe did admit though, that an injury scare in the first-half was perhaps not all it seemed.

"That was maybe a little tactical one," he said. "We were under the cosh a bit so maybe a bit of a tactical one."

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Balcombe enjoyed a long and testing night in the St Mirren goal, producing a handful of top stops to keep the match level before eventually being beaten by Felix Myhre 15 minutes from time.

"It was a busy night but I enjoyed it," said the goalkeeper. "I thrive on games like this. I'm here to show what I can do and that's what I can do.

"I think the save down low to my right [from Kartum early in the second half] was the best one of the game

"Myself and the back three, the back five, live for clean sheets. Jaden [Brown] made a couple of good blocks, Rich [Taylor] as well and Goga [Alex Gogic] is always there.

"We're building a close relationship and I've known some of the boys from before. I played with Jaden."

The result leaves St Mirren's hopes of progressing further in the Conference League hanging in the balance - but Balcombe is confident of an improved showing overall in Bergen.

He explained: "I think in the first half we gave them a bit too much respect and we've got to take the game to them.

"Clawing the goal back at the end is a bit of a positive but we're disappointed with the first 60 minutes. It was a good feeling at the end.

"We're going to try and take the game to them a bit more. We don't feel like the performance was up there with our levels the last couple of weeks."

On his goalkeeper, Stephen Robinson added: “Ellery has been a standout. He’s been so sure with some terrific saves.

"Thursday night was a game where you need you keeper to be on top form and he was with three or four of his saves top class.

“He’s probably the reason we’re still in the tie."