Match report: St Johnstone WFC 1-4 Aberdeen

St Johnstone Women bowed out of the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup at the quarter-final stage on Sunday despite a brave and determined performance against Aberdeen.

We had deservedly taken the lead against the SWPL outfit at the Riverside before they managed to work their way back into the game and win 4-1.

The Saints had started the match brightly, with the first clear opportunity coming after just a couple minutes when Elvie McLean struck from 20 yards out, forcing Annalisa McCann to dive low to her right and push the ball out for a corner.

Niamh Irvine took the corner, with McCann getting a punch that put the ball behind for another corner but, this time, Saints couldn’t test McCann.

The play then switched to the other end, with two Dons chances as the quarter hour approached. A free-kick from out on the right was played into a crowded box where Madison Finnie got a low strike away, taking a deflection as it went out for a corner.

Soon after Eva Thomson powered her way down the left, shooting low and wide of Bobby Cochran’s right-hand post.

Saints then had a great chance to take the lead. Rachel Howie was played through and, from just inside the box, with the goalkeeper to beat, she got her touch wrong and placed her effort over the bar.

With 25 minutes gone, Saints did take the lead. McLean won the ball from Aimee Black, made her way into the box and cooly slotted home past McCann sparking celebrations amongst the home support.

There was a real let-off just after, though. Emily Kraft looked to have finished off a move started by Holly McAvoy on the right wing, but on the line was Eirinn McCafferty to stop the ball.

However, on the half hour mark, the Dons drew level. Cochran’s short clearance was picked up and played to Emma Thomson who rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike, with the rebound headed home by McAvoy.

Into the second half it wouldn’t take long for Aberdeen to take the lead - just 10 minutes after the restart.

Black’s cross in from the right found Toni Leigh Finnegan, who scored from close range. On the hour mark, they extended their lead.

This time it was Francesca Ogilvie with the run forward and cross into the box where Kerry Beattie got a low finish past Cochran.

Howie threatened for Saints from a free-kick from close to the right-hand corner of the penalty area, but it hit the side netting. At the other end, Finnegan also went close heading over the bar. Cochran also produced a good save from Beattie.

With 20 minutes remaining, Saints came agonisingly close to reducing the arrears. McLean won the ball in midfield and passed it out to the left where Howie hit a powerful shot that cannoned off the crossbar.

It landed at the feet of Olivia Hurrell but just too quickly for her to adjust her feet and the ball trundled the wrong side of the post.

With 10 minutes left, Aberdeen completed the scoring with their fourth when Finnegan was found in space, took the ball around Cochran and stroked it home.

It was a valiant effort from Saints in front of the large crowd, with a side that was missing six players on the day through a variety of reasons.

This week sees two more matches for Saints, with a trip to Livingston on Wednesday evening with a 7.45pm kick off, followed by the visit of Gartcairn to Riverside next Sunday with a 1pm kick off.

Saints: Cochran, MacIver (Gibson), McLean, Simson, Hurrell, Irvine, Smith (Telford), McMillan, Malcolm, McCafferty, Howie. Subs not used: Townsley, Paterson.