MATCH REPORT | St Johnstone Women 5-0 Stirling University

It was third time lucky for St Johnstone Women and Stirling University on Sunday, in a match which has twice been postponed this year.

It took until the second half for the first goal, but Saints would eventually run out 5-0 winners. 

Saints went with the same starting eleven which drew to Boroughmuir Thistle last Sunday, with Anna Murray returning to the bench the only change to the squad. 

It was a slow start to the match from Saints who were facing a well marshalled Stirling side. There were few chances, with occasionally Saints taking an extra touch or pass rather than opting for a first-time strike at goal. The home side will also have felt they could have capitalised on the opportunities they had from three first half corners, and a free kick right on the edge of the box. 

It was from one of those corners which Stirling quickly countered, forcing Bobby Cochran into a 'sweeper-keeper' role rushing from her goal to clear a through ball, not for the first time in the half either. The visitors also threatened through Emily Gray who had a few efforts from distance. 

As half time approached, Saints began to enjoy more of the ball in the final third and started to increase the pressure on the Stirling defence. Jodie Malcolm was played through and forced Victoria Scarratt into a good save, before the rebound was cleared for a corner. Olivia Hurrell also struck from twenty-five yards forcing Scarratt into a save down to her left. 

The second half started much the same way, Stirling proving resolute in defence and twice went close themselves, the best opportunity coming from an intercepted clearance from Cochran which went wide of goal. Eventually, the deadlock was broken. Last month, the match was postponed with less than twenty-five minutes until kick off, and in that same period on Sunday, Saints scored five goals. 

Elvie McLean won possession in midfield and after some neat build up play and a blocked shot, the midfielder, who had made her way into the box, struck and saw her effort take a deflection off a defender to take it beyond Scarratt. 

Twelve minutes later, Saints had a second. Ellie May Cowie whipped in a ball from the left, which was perhaps looping in, forcing Scarratt to stretch and tip the ball away from goal, but it dropped fortuitously for Olivia Hurrell, coming off the striker's thigh into the net from a yard out. 

Three minutes after that, and it was three for Saints. Cowie was fouled by Rhianne Ferguson just inside the box leaving referee Kyle Hall no option to award a penalty. Cowie stepped up and a well placed penalty went beyond the left hand outstretched hand of Scarratt. By converting that penalty, her tally for the season move onto nine goals, and is now the side's top goal scorer. 

Saints fourth goal, coming two minutes after the restart in play was the pick of the bunch. Nicole Carter won the ball in midfield and laid it off to Niamh Irvine, who, from the corner of the penalty area, took a touch and unleashed a wicked strike which left the flailing Scarratt no chance. 

The fifth of the afternoon also came from twelve yards out. Former Stirling player Mariluz Sanchez was fouled by two Stirling defenders as she crossed into the penalty area. This time it was substitute Steffi Simson who stepped up and this time put it to the right of Scarratt. 

Saints now have two more matches this week, first of all away to Glasgow Women at the Reigart Stadium, Coatbridge - known to many still as Cliftonhill - and then back to Riverside next Sunday when second place Kilmarnock are the visitors. 

Reflecting on the game manager Kevin Candy said: "We have to be happy with a 5-0 win and another clean sheet of course. However, we weren't at the races in the first half. There was lots of effort and desire, but we made things very very hard for ourselves. 

"Sometimes we passed into a Stirling player at times instead of a Saints player when in good areas or trying to run through brick walls. We spoke to the girls at half time and gave them a bit of advice which they took on board for the second half.  

"It took a little while to breakdown Stirling, and all credit to them for that, but once the goals came in, things started to relax and deserved our five goals overall. Looking ahead to the games this week, we'll need to start on Wednesday the way we finished off here today as it will be a tough game.

“Kilmarnock are on a good run of form too, the games between the sides tend to be close and entertaining affairs, but we'll concentrate on Glasgow Women this Wednesday first."

Saints: Cochran, MacIver (Brady) McLean (Carter), Cowie (McCafferty), Irvine, Moodie (Sanchez), Malcolm (Simson), Burns, Hurrell, Steedman, Robertson

Subs not used: Mitchell, Murray, Bidgood.