Comfortable win for Saints

Points deserved in penultimate game

- STUART COWPER

A goal in each half was enough to see St Johnstone Women secure a 2-0 win away to Rossvale on Sunday.

When the sides last met at the Kirkintilloch Sports Centre in October, the match was played out in blustery conditions with Storm Ashley passing through.

On Sunday though there wasn’t too much ‘warming up’ required pre-match as the players came out to a pitch bathed in twenty-degree sunshine.

With their place in SWPL 2 confirmed for next season, Josh Henderson had wanted his side to play with more freedom and confidence and that was certainly the case in the opening stages of the first half. Saints took an early lead after seven minutes.

Jodie Malcolm was played through, her strike at goal from the right saved by Abigail Paton but the ball fell kindly to Megan Wands who made no mistake from six yards to score her first goal since joining Saints on-loan from Gartcairn.

Two minutes later Saints nearly doubled their lead. This time the ball came in from the left, with Rachel Howie whipping in a cross met with a powerful header by Olivia Hurrell.

Paton was equal to the save, the ball rebounding outside the penalty area where Ellie MacIver's shot was just over the bar.