Saints girls close in on top spot
Laura Dunn smashes home a free-kick St Johnstone’s Women moved to second in the standings on Sunday following a convincing 3-1 victory against Hearts.
Goals from Laura Dunn, Hannah Clark and Eilidh McIntyre at the McDiarmid Park astroturf delighted manager Jason McCrindle.
He said:“I thought we were excellent from start to finish. The first 15 to 20 minutes we were on top and forced their keeper to make a few good saves.
“We got the goal back at a really good time and the momentum going in at half-time was definitely with us and I didn’t want the half to end.
“We came out strong in the second half, going 2-1 up and continuing to press forward, score and do the right things. Hearts threatened as the second half went on, as we knew they would, but we were defensively sound on Sunday.”
Ellie May Cowie and Rachel Todd looked lively early on, hitting the side netting and forcing the Hearts keeper into smart stops within the first 10 minutes.
Despite the pressure, it was the visitors who took an early lead with a strike from outside of the box which left Saints keeper Becky Cameron with no chance.
McCrindle’s side continued to look lively and seven minutes before the break they were rewarded.
A sublime Dunn free-kick from 25-yards crashed into the roof of the net to level the contest.
Just shy of the hour mark Saints nudged into the lead when young striker Clark rifled into the Hearts net from the edge of the box.
It was not one-way traffic, however, with the Edinburgh squad smashing the cross bar shortly after.
McIntyre was introduced as Saints set about securing the three points. Clark then hit the post with a header but the third goal eventually came in the 93rd minute.
Rachel Todd’s pass deflected into the path of McIntyre, who under pressure squeezed the ball through the narrowest of gaps between keeper and post.
McCrindle added:“We’ve got a young side but most of the side have that bit of experience now to see games out.
“That is something we struggled with last season a couple of times. It was a great three points but it was the manner in which we won that really pleased me.”