It was a narrow defeat for St Johnstone Women on Sunday, losing 2-1 to Hamilton Accies at the Community Arena.
Saints had a good first half with a great deal of pressure put on the Hamilton defence. Jodie Malcolm came close twice in the opening few minutes to getting onto two searching through balls, but goalkeeper Sophia Anderson arrived at the ball a second or two before the winger on both occasions.
Leni Parrish was able to turn at the edge of the area and get a shot away, but found Anderson equal to it. At the other end, Saints stopper Megan Sidey was also equal to a Mel Reid strike saving low to her right with 15 minutes played.
Five minutes later, Saints took the lead. Lucy Livie won the ball in the middle of the park and played it out right to Malcolm. She flashed a ball low across the penalty area where left back Emily Tomb took a touch and, with a composed finish, netted her first Saints goal.
There were more Saints chances, Livie heading wide and then Alix Moodie thought she had scored from a tight angle on the left of the penalty area, only for Anderson to make a fantastic save tipping the ball onto the bar.
In the closing stages of the half Hamilton had chances but were unable to find the target as Reid twice fired over the bar along with Dara Ositelu and Aobihe Toner.
A goal just five minutes after the interval got the visitors back in the game. Reid made a run down the right flank before curling a ball to the far post where Chloe Muir struck high into the net from close range. Josephine Giard went close soon after with a curling effort from 25 yards which dinked off Sidey’s right-hand post.
Saints went close to retaking the lead through Livie as she chased down a loose ball, her outstretched leg just inches from prodding it beyond Anderson.
It was Hamilton, however, who took the lead six minutes after their equaliser. Giard did well to jink her way past a couple defenders a dispatch a shot into the bottom right corner.
Saints pressed for an equaliser and nearly had it through Malcolm. Her looping effort from the right wing was dropping inside the far post until Anderson tipped it away with a fully outstretched hand.
There was a chance for Osiletu to put the game out of reach, but she turned the ball wide from close range. Also going wide, with a gilt-edged chance was Saints’ Emily Shanks. Picking up a ball on the left she made her way into the box but her strike was agonisingly wide of goal.
Saints now face a tough test next Sunday as they head to league leaders Boroughmuir Thistle at Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Stadium with a 1pm kick off.
