Determined to be up there with the best
St Johnstone Women’s striker Rachel Todd believes her side’s great week shows the team can mix it with the league’s best.
Todd was speaking after the Perth side’s 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock at McDiarmid Park on Sunday where she slotted home from the penalty spot and provided a top-quality assist.
The victory gave Saints their second Scottish Building Society SWPL 2 victory in the space of a week.
A neat passing move saw the home side open the scoring after just five minutes. Rebecca McGowan won the ball deep in the Saints half and passed out to Nicole Carter who wasted no time passing to Rachel Todd on the left.
Holding off two midfielders, Todd, five yards into the Kilmarnock half, played a long, looping ball which was latched onto by Ellie May Cowie to head home from the edge of the penalty box past the onrushing goalkeeper and defenders.
The lead was short-lived, lasting just five minutes. Kilmarnock won a corner, and when it was swung in, Becky Cameron in the Saints goal was not able to hold it cleanly and, following a scramble, Rebecca Galt fired home.
The home side retook the lead in the 16th minute from the penalty spot after Todd was fouled by Aimie Docherty, who was then booked.
Todd herself slotted home into the bottom left corner. Stretching back to last season it was her seventh successful penalty in a row.
St Johnstone found themselves dominating possession and having the best of play, and had numerous chances to extend their lead.
Rachel Todd and Ellie May Cowie came close before Rebecca McGowan saw her sweet half volley graze inches wide of the post.
Ten minutes into the second half and the visitors were reduced to 10.
Ellie May Cowie got the better of Aimie Docherty for pace, who then cynically scythed the Saints striker down.
Having already been booked for giving away the penalty in the first half, the midfielder walked.
Kilmarnock dug in, and it was the visitors who came closest to scoring near the end as Colette Fleming’s shot crashed off the crossbar. But Saints held on for the victory. Todd, who also got an assist in the 1-0 win against Glasgow Girls the previous week, hopes the momentum can continue. She said: “I am delighted to get another assist and get myself another goal.
“The game started very quickly with three goals in the first 20 minutes.
“We knew we had to grab another goal or manage the game, with so much time left on the clock it was tough to see out the game.
“At half time we realised we had to keep up the work from the first half to get the three points we deserved.
“It was a great team effort on Sunday with lots of communication.
“Stepping up to take a penalty is nerve-wracking every time, waiting for the whistle feels like a life time.
“We have had two wins in our last two games and I think this has given us confidence to go onto the next game knowing we are good enough to compete against whoever we are up against.
“This Sunday sees us against Hutchison Vale, another three points would help our confidence for the following game against Hearts.
“The last two games against Hearts have been tight. They are a good side, we know we will have to work very hard to get a win.
“I think the break will help us to prepare and get ready for this game. The intensity at training and the effort from the team has been excellent and we intend on keeping this up.”