Match report: Kilmarnock WFC 4-2 St Johnstone WFC

St Johnstone Women lost their last away match of the season on Sunday – going down 4-2 to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

The Ayrshire side sat second in the league going into the match and they dominated early proceedings and would be three goals up with 20 minutes played.

After just five minutes, Aoife Bidgood, making her debut in goal for Saints, was forced into a save and was relieved to see Lucie Burns' follow up go over the bar.

Just a minute later Burns picked up the ball on the left, made her way to the edge of the box and fired just wide. At the other end Niamh Irvine volleyed an effort which wasn't too far away. 

On nine minutes, however, the hosts took the lead. Ellie May Cowie had flashed a ball across the box for Saints, with Kilmarnock picking up the loose ball and quickly countering up the pitch before winning a corner. It was from that corner where Louise Cowan eventually fired home.

Abby Robinson went close with a lifted shot that Bidgood was able to gather. Robinson set up Kilmarnock's second after 15 minutes. She held off a couple defenders before passing to Burns who struck low and, while Bidgood got her foot to the shot, it wasn't enough to stop it going into the net. 

Olivia Hurrell had a speculative effort from 25 yards which was comfortably dealt with by Ellie Currie in the Kilmarnock goal. Up the other end, they soon had a third.

Burns saw a shot saved by Bidgood, but the rebound came back out to her and she did well to curl her shot through a crowded penalty box to score. 

A water break perhaps came at the right time as Saints seemed to settle after it - and soon had a goal back. After half an hour, a long ball was sent forward and Ellie May Cowie reacted quickest to lift over Currie from the edge of the box.

Alix Moodie went close a short time later, reacting quickly when Currie spilled a shot but the stopper redeemed herself with a one-handed save to push the ball out for a corner. 

In the second half Saints were largely holding off Kilmarnock, with Georgie Rafferty trying her luck from distance being one of the first real chances of note.

Saints had started to enjoy more possession in the Kilmarnock half, but never really troubled Currie in goal. With 15 minutes remaining the match was all but put out of sight. Cowan was played through and outran the Saints defence to cut in and slot home past Bidgood. 

There was a glimmer of hope for Saints 10 minutes from time when Cowie netted her second of the match. Played through on the right by Jodie Malcolm, she drove into the box, doing well to hold off a couple defenders and dispatched a composed finish past Currie. Saints kept pushing, but were unable to get anything more from the match. 

The side remain in fifth place and welcome Glasgow Women to Riverside this Sunday with a 2pm kick off for the final match of the season.