Match report: St Johnstone WFC 1-2 Livingston

St Johnstone Women’s busy schedule continued on Wednesday night when they welcomed Livingston to the Riverside for SWPL2 action.

It would be the Lions who celebrated three points thanks to two quick-fire second half goals.

The result was a disappointing one to Saint, given the pressure they enjoyed for large parts of the match and especially in the first half. 

There were four changes to the side which defeated Elgin City on Sunday with Ellie MacIver, Rebecca McMillan, Daisy Smith and Rachel Howie coming into the side in place of Hannah Clark, Megan Paterson, Romilly Cruickshank and Elvie McLean. 

Much of the first half was played in the middle of the park, with Saints also spending much of the first 45 minutes in the Livingston half. With 17 minutes gone, Olivia Hurrell had the ball in the net but the assistant referee had his flag raised.

As the half hour mark approached, Saints again came close. Jodie Malcolm made her way down the right and, getting to the byline, crossed the ball across goal.

Glancing the head of Steffi Simson, it fell to Howie but her shot was easily gathered by Schenai Gamrot. The Livingston keeper’ would then make a double save to deny Hurrell and Eirinn McCafferty.

Simson had an effort blocked at close range after latching on to a Daisy Smith cross on the stroke of half time.

Saints were made to pay for not taking their chances soon after the restart - after just six minutes, in fact.

Kaitlyn Canavan found herself the fortunate recipient of the ball after it broke kindly to her and the experienced striker made no mistake from the edge of the box. Just three minutes later, they had a second.

This time it was a wonder strike from distance by Ashley Elizabeth which gave Bobby Cochran no chance. Erin Burns nearly added a third only a couple minutes later, but this time Cochran put off Burns and her effort flashed across goal. 

Burns would come closer still to scoring when she held off Rebecca McMillan and struck the post, with Saints clearing the ball to safety.

Saints had a number of half chances as the half wore on. MacIver turned a Malcolm cross over the bar from eight yards. Hurrell had an effort saved, with the ball falling to Simson who saw her shot blocked. It then fell to Malcolm who had her strike cleared off the line by Ellie Osborne as it made its way into the goal. 

Howie had a couple efforts that she couldn't keep on target, while McLean struck the post for Saints from a tight angle. There was a late consolation as Malcolm struck a ferocious effort from the edge of the penalty area in the 90th minute, coming down off the underside of the bar on its way in.

Saints continued to press forward in stoppage time, but it was the West Lothian side who would take the three points. 

Saints now welcome Kilmarnock to Riverside on Sunday with a 1pm kick off. 

Saints: Cochran, MacIver (West), Simson (Sidey), Hurrell, Irvine, Smith, McMillan, Malcolm, Jones, McCafferty (McLean), Howie.

PHOTO: Stuart Cowper