It was a warm, sunny, serene and sedate afternoon at the grounds of Stirling University on Sunday.
Serene and sedate, however, were not words that could be used to describe a match where Saints twice had to come from behind to eventually win by the odd goal in nine.
The home side had the first two chances of note, captain Hannah Kenyon with a strike easily gathered by Bobby Cochran after seven minutes. A short time later – and a warning of what was to come – Ellie Osborne broke through and saw her effort also saved.
After 14 minutes, Saints were presented with a chance to take the lead from 12 yards. Elvie McLean was fouled in the right hand corner of the penalty area at the byline. Eirinn McCafferty stepped up and made no mistake with her penalty.
Jodie Malcolm then went close for Saints, a powerful strike forcing a save from Amy Marshall with the ball cleared for a throw-in before a rebound could be tapped home. There were also chances for McLean and Kristen Taplin to double the lead, but the next goal came at the other end.
Osborne took the ball out the right and was able to curl an effort into the far post which gave Cochran no chance of saving.
Just five minutes later, Osborne got her second. A ball played out from the back was intercepted and while Cochran made the save from the initial strike, she was helpless as an unmarked Osborne was able to knock home the rebound.
Saints were immediately on the front foot to find a quick equaliser and did so right on the stroke of half time. McLean, picking up the ball from a throw-in on the right, took it to the byline and into the penalty area neatly threading the ball through the legs of a defender and between Marshall and her near post from an acute angle.
The first good chance of the second half fell to Saints, Niamh Irvine seeing her shot well saved. It was from the ball forward that Stirling, as they had done throughout, worked the ball forward quickly and it was Osborne who was able to dart through the Saints defence and slot home for her hat-trick.
Saints turned on the pressure, but found a resolute Stirling and were forced to shoot from distance, McLean and McCafferty with efforts just over, while substitute Leni Parrish hit the bar.
Stirling very nearly scored a fourth when a free kick from midfield was launched into the box with Kendra Wells seeing her effort go narrowly wide. Wells only had a minute to wait until she did get that fourth for the hosts, making the most of a defensive mix up for an easy finish in the 69th minute.
Josh Henderson made a tactical change with a change in formation which would pay dividends until full time.
Two minutes after that Stirling goal, McLean was fouled wide on the left, about 35 yards out. McCafferty floated the free kick into a crowded area where Phillippa MacConnell headed the ball into her own net.
Not that there was any question over character, but it showed in the closing stages of this match. There was now a renewed belief in the Saints ranks, and the change of shape working well creating pressure and more chances as a result.
With eight minutes left, Saints drew level. Irvine chased down a ball on the right wing, cutting back to McCafferty who restored parity with an exquisite strike.
Pushing for a winner, Irvine headed a Lila Aitchison cross just over while Aitchison herself went close, a powerful turn and hit forcing a save.
Into the final minute and, just as she had done in the final minute of the first half, McLean found the back of the net. Jinking her way through the Stirling defence she side footed the ball above Marshall from the edge of the six yard area to spark wild celebrations amongst the Saints players.
Still, they had to see the match out, and through careful game management for the final few minutes, notably directed by Malcolm, keeping the ball in the top left corner, they did just that.
There’s now a free week before Livingston are the visitors to McDiarmid on Sunday April 5th for a 4pm kick off.
Saints: Cochran, Burns, McLean, Malcolm, Bennett Luna (Parrish), Irvine, McCafferty, McMillan, Taplin (K.Brady), Smith, S.Brady (Aitchison)
Sub not used: Grattan
