St Johnstone Women lost out to Queen’s Park on Sunday in a game that rivalled that of a tennis match in terms of how quickly play switched from end to end, and in scoreline.
“This could finish 6-6” was the opinion of one spectator after 24 minutes as the fourth goal went in. “This could still finish 6-6″, they said, after 68 minutes, having now seen another five goals. It should have. It could also have ended up a much higher scoreline.
However, the visitors eventually ran out 6-4 winners at a blustery Community Arena.
Queen’s Park took the lead after just five minutes. Nicole Cairney crossed in low from wide on the left and Rebecca McAllister timed her run well to stroke the ball home from a few yards out.
Saints equalised four minutes later through Elvie McLean from distance. Juliana Bennett Luna won the ball at the edge of the area and passed it out to McLean, wide on the left, who curled an effort from close to 30 yards.
The visitors retook the lead after 22 minutes when a long ball forward found Olivia King in space who had time to compose herself and slot home low beyond Megan Sidey. This time the lead only lasted two minutes as Saints equalised through Jodie Malcolm. Lucy Livie slipped a ball through the defence and there was Malcolm to prod the ball home beyond Jasmine McPhie.
It was then parity that lasted just two minutes as the Spiders went ahead through Abby Cusack. Once again, a long ball undid the Saints defence and Cusack, reading the bounce of the ball, was able to dink it over Sidey.
The end-to-end nature of the game continued and Saints could have drawn level through Alix Moodie. Niamh Irvine won the ball by the right touchline and played it forward to Bennett Luna who knocked it back to the edge of the area, but Moodie didn’t get the connection she would have liked and the ball went wide.
Livie once again set up Malcolm who lofted over McPhie who was stood on the penalty spot and no doubt relieved as the ball bounced off the far post and away to safety. Back at the other end, Sidey made an excellent save from Ellie Kane tipping her close-range effort onto the post. Shortly before the interval, Queen’s Park extended their lead. A counter attack ended with McAllister cutting in from the right and curling the ball beyond Sidey.
The Glasgow side scored a fifth in the 58th minute. A deep cross from the right caused the Saints defence problems and, unable to clear the ball, Cairney capitalised to score from a couple yards out.
Three minutes after that Saints pulled a goal back. Proving she can score from close range, Robyn Smith played a ball in from the right to McLean who side footed the ball home from the corner of the six-yard box. Moodie was then played in but she cut her effort across goal and it went agonisingly wide of goal.
Saints then pulled back another goal back in the 68th minute. Pressure on the Queen’s Park defence saw Emily Shanks win the ball on the left and she played it across the box where Malcolm turned and struck high into the net.
Saints came so close to an equaliser a short time later. A move forward started by Brodie Rigby-Wilson saw the ball played out to Malcolm wide on the right, she crossed the ball in but it bounced just as McLean went to strike, and the chance was gone.
In the 79th minute a quick Queen’s Park counter attack saw Megan Whiteford and Ellie Kane link up well to find an unmarked Hannah Cairns who made no mistake from 10 yards out. She would soon be denied by the left boot of Megan Sidey.
There was a final chance for Malcolm after being played through on goal, but a deft touch from a defender took the ball from her as she went to strike.
Saints now have a free week before travelling to MTC Park in Airdrie on October 18th to face Gartcairn.
Saints: Sidey, MacIver (S.Brady), McLean (Rigby-Wilson), Malcolm, Bennett Luna (Shanks), Irvine, Moodie, Livie (R. Smith), McMillan, D.Smith, Tomb.
Unused subs: Clark, Taplin, Gates, Parrish.
