Goalkeeper shortage eased for weekend
McCrindle (right) hopes goalkeeper Becky Cameron is back in action this weekend St Johnstone Women’s goalkeeping crisis will be eased for this weekend’s home league game against Hearts, head coach Jason McCrindle has confirmed.
The McDiarmid Park side were without three stoppers for their most recent outing, a 4-0 cup defeat away at Celtic.
Defender Amy Henderson stepped up to the plate to plug the gap but McCrindle is optimistic that the norm will be restored on Sunday.
“Bobby Cochran is a long-term injury,”he said. “She will be out for six or seven months with an ACL injury.
“But we’re hoping Becky Cameron and Corrie McIlravey will be back training. So there is competition for places on the goalkeeping front.
“Amy Henderson had played in goals before. We found out on the morning of the game that we weren’t going to have a goalkeeper.
“Amy was the first to put her hand up to say that she would step in. It shows the type of character she is.
“She did really well and looks like a goalkeeper. We were having a laugh saying she is a better goalie than she is a centre-back.
“But it will be good to get her back in her normal position because she is a leader and brings a lot to the team.”
Saints started the Scottish Women’s Premier League 2 with one win and one defeat.
“The Aberdeen game was excellent for us, especially away from home,” McCrindle said.“We’re hoping to build on that. We’re looking forward to the game at the weekend.
“If we take the same performance, work-rate and energy then it’s a great chance of three points. We need to replicate the Aberdeen performance.
“Hearts are unbeaten in the league and they have signed a couple of experienced players. Every game is going to be tough.
“With Hearts being unbeaten, that brings its own pressure for them. For us, being at home, we will be looking to take the game to them.
“Momentum is going to be huge. If we can find the consistency, then two or three wins can really shoot you up the league.
“We’re only two games into the league so everything is quite tight. There are a group of teams bunched together.
“Morale is good and we have two or three players back from injury. Competition for places is tough and you can see that in the training. It’s bringing out the best in them.”
Kick-off at McDiarmid Park against Hearts on Sunday is 4pm.