Saints Women chase cup glory Perth side book their place in last 16
St Johnstone Women’s boss Jason McCrindle is on a mission to create Scottish Cup history.
The Perth head coach watched the men’s team famously lift the historic trophy in 2014 following a 2-0 victory against Dundee United.
McDiarmid Park sights are being set high after defeating Dunfermline at the weekend to advance into the last 16 of the competition.
“We always tell the players that it’s another game but it is hard to get away from the romance of the cup, especially the Scottish Cup,” McCrindle said.
“With the men’s team, no one will ever forget that May 17 win. We want to create our own bit of history.
“It’s a competition we want to go far in and do well in. But it’s going to be tough regardless of who we get.
“When you look at the SWPL1, Glasgow City and Hibernian are still the best two teams in Scotland by quite a distance.
“We’re obviously in the league below so it’s going to take a monumental effort from everyone.
“If we were to get them in a quarterfinal or a semi-final it’s not just about enjoying the day. It’s about playing the game and giving a good account of ourselves.
“The cup is always a bonus and we have reached the last eight of the Scottish Cup for the past three years. It will be good to do that again this year with St Johnstone.
“You need the luck of the draw because once you get further the competition becomes harder. Saints celebrate one of their goals as they march into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup
Captain Jade McDonald plants a header into the back of the net “Once you get Hibernian and Saints lost to Edinburgh University Glasgow City coming in, or any Premier Hutchison Vale on Wednesday night League 1 side, it’s going to be really ahead of this Sunday’s clash away at tough. There is still a favourable draw Kilmarnock. available.” “We were unbeaten in six so it’s a
The 6-3 win against Dunfermline was good wee run we’re on,” McCrindle certainly an exciting one for the neutral said. “It was Edinburgh University with the Perth side needing to show a Hutchison Vale on Wednesday which strong determination to pull through. was tough.
Goals from Rachel Todd (2), Hannah “Then it’s Kilmarnock at Rugby Park Clark (2), Jade McDonald and Ellie May on Sunday. We then have a mid-season Cowie made sure Saints’ name was in break so we’ll see where we are after the hat for the next round. that.
McCrindle said: “It was good when “We could have been going into the we went 3-0 up and I believe we game on Sunday in second place. could’ve managed the game better “Sunday will be a hard one but we and got another couple of goals. want to finish the first half of the season
“When it went back to 3-3 we calmed on a high. If we can get close to second, ourselves down and re-focused. We that would be fantastic. then scored three really good goals. “We were excellent against
“It was disappointing to lose goals Kilmarnock earlier in the season. and it took a bit of shine off the second We were outstanding that day and half performance. But it’s about getting I’d love for us to play with that same into the next round.” confidence.”