Perthshire Advertiser

Cowie begins on front foot Striker nets double - but wanted third

- MATTHEW GALLAGHER

She netted a double on the opening day of the season.

But St Johnstone WFC striker EllieMay Cowie was cursing that it wasn’t a hat-trick.

The Perth forward chipped in with two as the Perth side recorded a Scottish Women’s Premier League 2 victory against Queen’s Park.

Nicole Carter and Rachel Todd were also on the scoresheet in a 4-2 win which was labelled as greatly important in order to build some early momentum.

“It was quite annoying that I didn’t get my hat-trick,” said 19-year-old Cowie. “But it was a really good game and all of the girls were buzzing.

“I want to be consistent in my own performanc­e and score as many as I can. I’m really wanting to take opportunit­ies I’m given.

“Getting that win was so important to us, because last season we didn’t perform as well as we wanted.

“Starting on the front foot really helps us and, I know it’s only the first game, but we’re up at the top of the league just now.

“Hopefully we can stay there for quite a while. If we all work hard, I feel like we can contest for the league and be in the top half.

“Obviously nobody ever wants to get relegated and we definitely don’t want to be in a position near the bottom of the table again.”

Saints’ attention turns back to SWPL Cup Group A action this weekend with a home game against Glasgow Women on Sunday.

The McDiarmid Park squad will face the same opposition in their next league fixture.

“We’ve had consistenc­y over the past couple of weeks in the team,” Cowie continued. “Everybody now knows how each other plays.

“We were all looking forward to getting into the first game and I feel that everyone played their best and gave everything.

“The new girls have gelled really well with the team. It can be difficult coming into a new team, but we’ve all been very welcoming.

“It would’ve been good to have another league game, but it’s the cup so we just need to look forward to that.

“We’re playing Glasgow Women in the league the game after too. No matter what the score is this weekend, it will be just as hard.

“They have always been a tough opposition to come up against. They have quite a few new signings and some young girls.

“So I think they will be quite fit and will put up a good fight. But hopefully we can still get the win from it.”

Saints recently signed goalkeeper Molly Reeve and she is hoping to play a big part this season.

“I can’t thank the coaches enough for having me on board and all the girls for being so welcoming,” she said after joining up with her team-mates.

“The profession­alism is outstandin­g, creating an environmen­t to enable players to develop to their highest potential.

“As it is my first full season, I look forward to the new challenges that a new league and opponents bring both individual­ly and as a team.”

Kick-off at Loch Leven Community Campus on Sunday is 12pm. All support would be welcomed.

 ??  ?? Composed Saints’ Ellie-May Cowie makes no mistake in finding the back of the net. Photo: Stuart Cowper
Composed Saints’ Ellie-May Cowie makes no mistake in finding the back of the net. Photo: Stuart Cowper
 ??  ?? Going the distance Nicole Carter fired in this effort from 30 yards
Going the distance Nicole Carter fired in this effort from 30 yards

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