Nicola and Abbie enjoy goal delight
First strikes for Saints as McGowan nets other Playerof themonth
ST JOHNSTONE WFC ........ 3 KILMARNOCK ................... 0 Matthew Gallagher
This will always be remembered as a special night for St Johnstone WFC’s Nicola Jameison and Abbie Ferguson.
Not only was it a comfortable winning Wednesday, the McDiarmid Park pair also netted their first ever goals for the club.
Jameison, who performed well all evening in the heart of the defence, had reacted quickest on the hour mark to turn home from close range.
And there were smiles all round when Perth-based youngster Ferguson, on loan from Celtic, calmly scored the third with time running short.
Before all of this, Scotland under-19 internationalist Rebecca McGowan had continued a rich vein of form to open the scoring.
“In the end the 3-0 scoreline is very pleasing,” said head coach Jason McCrindle. “In the first half, I thought we were excellent.
“Only being one up at halftime was a little disappointing considering we had hit the post and the crossbar.
“Kilmarnock came out flying in the second half and we knew they would. But we managed the game well.”
McCrindle was thrilled to watch Jameison and Ferguson find the back of the net for the first time in Perth colours.
“Nicola has made a great start to the season after coming in from Hibs,” he said. “She has settled really well.
“I hope she can now kick on further and maybe even grab a few more goals for us.
“And Abbie, we see her quality every week in training.
“We’re encouraging her to occasionally take less touches when her back is to goal.
“But for a young striker to make that run and be in the right place at the right time is really pleasing.”
Early doors, Saints were thankful for a last-ditch Rhee Tweedie challenge to prevent Gillian Sloey from pulling the trigger inside the box.
But they did not take long to get into their stride and soon went close to gaining the upper hand when Morgan Steedman’s cross from the left flank struck the post.
With 19 minutes on the clock, however, Saints did find the back of the net.
And it arrived from a familiar source in November’s player of the month nominee.
McGowan showed her class and composure to swing a right-footed effort from a yard inside the box across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner. She celebrated her third goal in two games with delighted team-mates.
Head coach McCrindle was pleased with what he was seeing and the lead was almost doubled just shy of the half hour mark. A clever turn sent Steedman forward into space.
And for a second the strike looked destined for the top corner. All eyes were glued to the sky as the ball travelled towards goal but it crashed off the crossbar before being cleared from danger.
The Ayrshire visitors were determined to work their way back into the contest and Amy Burrows did go close on the 50 minute mark with a glancing header which dropped the wrong side of the post.
Saints breathed a sigh of relief before reacting well to double their advantage on the hour mark. Rachel Todd’s free-kick came back off the goalkeeper and Jameison reacted quickest to fire across the line from close range.
Up the other end, the centrehalf had put in an assured defensive performance alongside Tweedie, Laura Wight and Hannah Clark.
Killie again looked to retaliate and another delivery into the area this time saw Lauren Sloan nod wide.
As the game reached its latter stages, Ferguson, on loan from Celtic, quickly showed off her neat feet. And with five minutes remaining she was positioned nicely inside the box to tuck home a Todd cross.
Saints travel to Queen’s Park this Sunday.
Jason McCrindle has hailed St Johnstone WFC star Rebecca McGowan’s desire to continually improve.
The Saints head coach was speaking after his talented midfielder was nominated for SWPL Player of the Month for November.
McGowan, a Scotland under-19 internationalist, enjoyed a productive month and had rounded it off with two goals against Queen’s Park.
McCrindle said: “She has made a really good start to the season. Scoring that first goal against Stirling at the start of the season was good for confidence.
“From there she has excelled in everything she has done, both in terms of training and her performances.
“Rebecca is always wanting to improve, even away from football. We always do what we can to help her.
“We’re glad that she is with us. I think this is the best place for her just now because she is developing her game.
“I know she is going to move at some point. She could go anywhere she wants if she keeps doing what she’s doing.
“It’s something she wants to pursue. If she keeps improving and working hard, she can achieve anything she wants.”