Match report: St Johnstone WFC 2 Kilmarnock WFC 3

St Johnstone Women came up just short of making it three wins in the space of a week on Sunday - losing to Kilmarnock 3-2. 

There was one change to the side which defeated Glasgow Women at Cliftonhill on Wednesday with Megan Burns coming in for the unavailable Laura Steedman. 

The opening exchanges saw two well-matched teams trying to find the better of each other, but neither gaining an early advantage.

Steffi Simson went close for Saints early doors with a curling effort sent just wide of Abbie Ferns’ left-hand post. 

Twenty-five minutes in and the visitors took the lead. Lauryn Reside fired in a ball wide on the left which seemed to elude defenders, strikers and goalkeeper alike before it trundled, untouched, into the far corner of Bobby Cochran's goal.

Elvie McLean nearly had Saints level just a couple minutes later. Her effort from a good twenty-five yards forced Ferns to dive to her right. The spilled shot was cleared to safety before the awaiting Simson could knock the rebound home.

With half an hour gone, Kilmarnock doubled their lead. Saints needlessly conceded a free kick out on the right when tricky playmaker Abby Robinson was fouled.

When the free-kick was swung in, the experienced Dionne Brown reacted quickest to prod the ball past Cochran. 

Saints halved the arrears right on half-time. Elvie McLean, from just inside the Saints half, played a delightful through ball which Olivia Hurrell darted onto.

She used quick feet to take the ball past the onrushing Ferns and slot it home into the empty net. 

Saints made a lively start to the second half with Niamh Irvine forcing a save and soon after Elvie McLean doing the same.

Ten minutes in and Saints had drawn level. Scarlett Brady looped a ball forward which Hurrell chased into the box, turned her defender and crossed to half time substitute Nicole Carter who slid in at the back post to convert.

Georgie Rafferty had gone close from distance for the visitors before Brown struck once again to put the Ayrshire side ahead with twenty minutes left.

A diagonal ball out to the left saw Kilmarnock break down the wing before a ball was played in to Brown who made no mistake from six yards out.

Saints pressed for an equaliser and created numerous chances as the clock ran down towards full time. Jodie Malcolm, Hurrell and Ellie May Cowie with an overhead kick all went close to equalising.

It felt as though an equaliser, which would not be without merit, was coming and for the home support it looked like Cowie might have scored it in the dying minutes of the game.

Played through by Hurrell, the wingback certainly looked to have timed her run well and slotted home past Ferns.

However, the referee's whistle blew as Cowie struck with the far side assistant having flagged for offside.

The vehement nature of the protest which followed from the players and more so the home support would suggest that Cowie may well have been onside when the ball was played.

Saints now have a free week from league action before returning to action on Sunday, March 31 when they make the short trip down the A9 to face Stirling University.

Saints: Cochran (Mitchell), Murray, McLean (Sanchez) Cowie, Irvine, Moodie (Carter), Brady, Simson (Malcolm) Burns, Hurrell, Robertson

Subs not used: MacIver, Clark, Trialist, Bidgood, McCafferty.