It was a disappointing afternoon for St Johnstone Women losing 2-1 to Falkirk at the Community Arena.
Both sides got forward in the opening few minutes but it was the visitors who took the lead after just 8 minutes. Falkirk had camped out 25 yards from goal with a few weaker attempts at goal blocked or headed away, but Saints just could not clear their lines. Falkirk won the ball at the edge of the area where Gemma Mason was able to take a touch before a hitting a fine strike into the top right corner that left Charlotte Gates in the Saints goal with no chance.
Gates was called into action making a few good saves in the ten minutes following the goal.
Saints started to get back into the game and equalised with 22 minutes played through Robyn Smith. Jodie Malcolm switched a ball out to the left where Lucy Livie cut inside and struck a looping effort goal bound forcing Charlotte Ferguson to claw the ball away where Smith was on hand to tap in the rebound from close range.
Just a couple minutes later Smith very nearly had a second, lobbing Ferguson from the corner of the penalty area but the ball ended up going narrowly past the post. Malcolm had a strike that went narrowly over the bar as Saints piled on the pressure. Played in by Emily Tomb, Lucy Livie also saw an effort go the wrong side of the post.
The second half Falkirk were the better side with much of the game being played in the Saints half. Gates was in fine form repeatedly denying the Bairns, with two fine saves from Lucia McIntyre.
A well worked move by Saints saw Jodie Malcolm power down the right before playing the ball into Robyn Smith who passed it on to Juliana Bennett Luna but she wasn’t able to turn the ball home.
With just under twenty minutes left, Falkirk took the lead. Picking up the ball in midfield, Gemma Mason strode forward, looked up and from all of thirty yards hit a powerful strike looking to lob Gates.
Gates though made an excellent one-handed save tipping the ball onto the post. Unfortunately, in a sign it wasn’t to be Saints day, the ball rebounded off the upright trundled along and in off the opposite post.
Gates, who collected the Zenith Coins Player of the Match for her efforts, would also deny Falkirk adding in the closing stages.
There were a few corners from Saints in the second half, and latterly they were getting forward more but just could not find a way through to test Ferguson.
The side now travel to Foundation Park in Dundee next Sunday facing Dundee United with a 3.30pm kick off.
Saints: Gates, Telford (McMillan), MacIver, Malcolm, Irvine, Moodie (S.Brady), Livie (Bennett Luna) D.Smith, R.Smith, Rigby-Wilson (Shanks), Tomb.
Subs not used: Sidey, K.Brady, McLean.
Match report by Stuart Cowper.
