It was a narrow 3-2 opening day defeat for St Johnstone Women at home to Livingston on Sunday afternoon in the league stage of the Sky Sports Cup.
Saints started the better of the two sides, and were continually getting forward. With eight minutes played they took the lead.
New loan signing Lucy Livie dispossessed a defender 25 yards from goal, took the ball around goalkeeper Chloe Gibey at the edge of the penalty area and rolled it home into an empty net.
Saints continued to press with Elvie McLean trying her luck from distance on a couple of occasions. Neat build up play between Jodie Malcolm and Robyn Smith saw the ball moved to Livie who had a shot saved from the edge of the area. Jodie Malcolm also went narrowly wide.
Livingston were still having breaks forward, and some half chances. On the stroke of half-time they drew level. A ball flighted in from the left was met by defender Eve Donald who made no mistake.
Just after the break, Livingston got a second. Megan Whiteford managing to beat an offside trap and slot home beyond Megan Sidey.
Sidey was called into action more in this half than she had been in the first, doing well at corners to punch the ball clear on a few occasions, and making some good saves.
She couldn’t do anything about the third goal when Whiteford latched onto a long ball forward and, again beating the offside trap, placed the ball beyond Sidey.
Saints began to turn the game again and started to get forward more. Livie went close on a couple occasions as did Daisy Smith and Abbie Telford. With 10 minutes left, Saints got a goal back. A high cross into the box wasn’t dealt with by Gibney and Brogan Anderson knocked the ball in from a few yards out – her first goal for the side.
Saints pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages, Leni Parrish going close along with Robyn Smith, but they weren’t able to get a draw to have taken the tie to penalties.
Next Sunday the side travel north to face Aberdeen as the league stage of the Sky Sports Cup continues.
Saints: Sidey, Telford (Parrish), Brady, MacIver, Burns, McLean(Anderson) Malcolm, Moodie, Livie, D.Smith, R.Smith.
Subs not used: Clark, Grattan.
