St Johnstone made a bright start to their match against Gartcairn on Sunday afternoon, but ultimately the points remained in Airdrie.
Saints opened the scoring in under a minute through Lila Aitchison.
Getting forward quickly from kick-off, a ball from Elvie McLean was played out to Jodie Malcolm who did well to hold off a defender and find Aitchison, who took it past a couple defenders before striking low beyond Ava Easdon.
Elvie McLean went close to adding a second for Saints soon after, but her shot from the corner of the penalty area was just over. Gartcairn had a couple forays forward but nothing that greatly troubled the Saints defence.
With quarter of an hour gone, the home side drew level. A free kick at the edge of the box had been blocked a couple of times with the ball going out for a corner. It was from that corner that Rebecca Brady scored, directly, with ball being caught in the strong wind aiding its flight into the net.
Steffi Simson would go close to getting Saints back in front, but her strike five minutes after the equaliser was well saved by Easdon. Bobby Cochran in the Saints goal made a fine one-handed save to deny Isla Gourley, while Jessica Linden and Georgie Robb had efforts for the home side they would feel they could have done better with.
In first half stoppage time Gartcairn took the lead when they were awarded a penalty after Clare Docherty was fouled. Georgie Robb took the spot kick and, while Cochran went the right way, she wasn’t able to stop the penalty placed right into the corner.
The second half Saints looked to take advantage of the strong wind which was now at their backs but, unfortunately before they could, Gartcairn found themselves with a numerical advantage.
Seven minutes after the restart Isla Gourley was making her way towards goal when there was a clipping of heels and tangling with Saints defender Ellie Jones. The referee looked to play on with Gourley remaining on her feet, but with no advantage gained stopped play for a free kick and Jones was shown a straight red card.
Rebecca Simpson took the resulting free kick and curled an effort high over the wall and beyond Cochran to extend the home side’s lead.
Much of the half was a bit of a battle as Saints sat in against Gartcairn, breaking forward when they could. EMcLean had a few long range efforts, well worth it given the conditions, and coming close to scoring with them. She would also go just wide closer to goal when she was played in by Daisy Smith on the hour mark.
Smith herself would go close to scoring late on from 25 yards, her strike grazing the crossbar after being set up by the returning Niamh Irvine at a free kick.
With 10 minutes left the win was secured when veteran striker Docherty was played through on goal, lifting her effort over Cochran and seeing it bounce down off the crossbar and over the line.
This Sunday Saints welcome Livingston to McDiarmid Astro with a 4pm kick off for the first home match of 2026
Saints: Cochran, Jones, Brady, MacIver, McLean, Simson (Irvine), Malcolm, McMillan, Smith, Parrish (Taplin), Aitchison (Trialist)
Unused sub: Grattan.
