St Johnstone Women’s Sky Sports Cup campaign came to an end on Sunday as a 2-1 defeat away to Renfrew denied them a league phase play-off spot.
Newly-promoted Renfrew started the match well, with some early pressure forcing a couple of half chances.
It would be a fairly open, entertaining half, with both sides having their chances. Elive McLean and Lucy Livie both had early strikes go just over the bar, while Jodie Malcolm forced a save from Ellie Currie from the left hand side of the penalty area.
With 11 minutes gone, Malcolm forced Currie into an even more spectacular save as she tipped a powerful effort onto the bar for a corner, which, when played into the box, saw McLean go just wide of goal. A few minutes later, McLean struck the bar this time and Malcolm’s follow up with the rebound went just wide of goal.
Keira Heppenstall nearly got a goal for the home side, latching onto a great through ball after 20 minutes, but curled her effort just wide of goal. Five minutes later she forced Saints ‘keeper Charlotte Gates into a save.
Saints kept up the pressure, Klara Brady having a strike whistle past the post, while Malcolm also went wide before hitting the bar once again.
As the half came to an end, it was Renfrew who were starting to put pressure on Saints with an effort well saved by Gates, and the ball cleared only as far as a Renfrew player with her effort cleared off the line. Caitlin Martin headed over from a corner and then, with four minutes of the half remaining, they took the lead. Neat play saw Heppenstall slot home beyond Gates from close range.
The second half started with McLean seeing a shot cleared off the line, and Malcolm going close to equalising soon after.
With just over an hour played, Renfrew nearly got a second, Rachael McConnachie beating the offside trap but she put her effort wide of the target.
There weren’t quite as many opportunities as the first half, with Renfrew doing well to keep Saints from opening them up as much. Emily Shanks had an effort saved, and Livie had a strike hit the side netting.
With seven minutes left, Renfrew got their second. McConnachie latched onto a long ball forward and was able to take it beyond Gates to slot home. Saints got a late goal back, a couple minutes from time, a delightful through ball from Brogan Anderson sending Shanks in on goal and this time made no mistake to score her first goal for the side.
Saints pushed players forward in search of the equaliser which would have taken the game to penalties, but Renfrew were able to see the game out.
Next Sunday is the first match of the Scottish Power Women’s Premier League 2 season with Livingston the visitors to McDiarmid for a 4pm kick off.
