Match report: St Johnstone WFC 4-1 Ayr United

St Johnstone Women returned to action on Sunday after the international break and defeated Ayr United 4-1 at Riverside.

There was a fast-paced start to the match, with both sides sitting bottom of the league knowing how vital it would be to pick up valuable points.

With just eight minutes on the clock, the hosts opened the scoring. Erinn McCafferty had done well to win the ball wide on the left and, when it was fired in low to the box, Jodie Malcolm side-footed the ball high into the net from six yards out. 

Saints began to enjoy a spell of pressure with Steffi Simson and Olivia Hurrell both having efforts go just wide of goal. Hurrell also saw a close-range strike well saved by Charlotte Ferguson, with Rebecca McMillan's rebound blocked by a defender.

At the other end, Clare Docherty from wide on the right saw her powerful strike go just over the bar. In another opportunity, Ayr captain Jodie Barbour broke through the Saints defence but she wasn't able to get the power she might have liked and her low shot was easily saved by Jodie Baker.

Shortly after that effort, Saints came close to doubling their lead. Simson was played through and the striker did well to beat a defender, but once again her shot from just inside the penalty area went wide of the target.

Simson would turn provider for the second goal in the 23rd minute. She played a delightful ball through for Malcolm who waltzed past a couple of Ayr defenders before slotting home as Ferguson came out to close her down. 

Hurrell came close to netting a third for Saints, a strike from 25 yards dipping just too late landing on the roof of the net. With a minute to go until half time, Simson finally got the goal which had eluded her thus far. Rachel Howie swung a ball in from the left and Simson met the cross perfectly with a deft first time side foot finish from eight yards out.

Within a minute of the restart, Ayr pulled a goal back, reminding the home side that this match wasn't done just yet. A through ball found Jaya Gill who, from an incredibly tight angle, gave Baker no chance with her strike.

The goal gave Ayr renewed belief and, at the start of the second half, they began to enjoy more of the game, with a number of half chances forcing Saints to defend for the longest spell of the game so far. Experienced striker Clare Docherty again went close for the visitors. 

With 20 minutes of the match remaining Ayr were reduced to 10 when Lauren McBlain struck Howie in an off-the-ball incident. Ferguson in the Ayr goal, as she had done all afternoon, was often quick off her line to smother the ball and stifle Saints attacks at the edges of her penalty area. 

Into the final five minutes of the match, Ayr substitute Chloe Duthie nearly pulled back a second goal for the visitors which would have set up a showdown finish, but she saw her effort go wide of goal.

A couple minutes later the points were secured for Saints when Hurrell scored her sixth goal of the season, a powerful strike from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

There is now another free week, before Saints travel to league leaders Hamilton on Friday 15th November with an 8m kick off at New Douglas Park. 

Saints: Baker, Robertson, McLean (Gibson), Simson (Haston), Hurrell, Irvine, Smith (MacIver), McMillan, Malcolm, McCafferty, Howie (West). Subs not used: Telford, Shepherd, Paterson, Cochran.