Queen's Park maintained their winning start to the season with a 4-1 victory over St Johnstone yesterday at New Tinto Park.
It was an unchanged Spiders starting XI who faced the Perth side.
The visitors made two changes to the side which started against Stirling, with Rebecca Robertson and Ellie MacIver coming in for Laura Steedman and Nicole Carter.
Although it was St Johnstone who had the majority of the ball in the opening minutes, it was Queen’s who created the first chance with Monica Hart and then Ellie Kane both testing Ellie Mitchell in goal for St Johnstone.
Nicole Cairney was seeing a lot of the ball, similar to last week, and in the eighth minute she cut past a defender and fired in a low shot which was easily gathered by Ellie Mitchell.
Two minutes later, after a long clearance by Mitchell, Morgan Steedman had a volley from 25 yards out which narrowly missed Lauren McGregor’s goal.
Queen’s continued to pile on the pressure to get that opening goal with Nicole Cairney and Emma Craig having shots expertly dealt with by Ellie Mitchell.
In the 37th minute Lauren McGregor denied St Johnstone when she pulled off a superb save to block Morgan Steedman’s powerful strike.
Half-time: Queen’s Park 0 St Johnstone 0
Queen’s continued the second half where they left off in the first – dominating play and trying to get that opening goal.
Ellie Kane had the first shot of the second half in the 52nd minute which brought off yet another great stop by Ellie Mitchell.
This was followed by Emma Craig, Monica Harty and Megan Quigley having attempts.
The inevitable breakthrough came in the 62nd minute and what a goal to break the deadlock. Darcy Molley started the move inside her own half with a pass to Ellie Kane who, in turn, played a cross-pitch pass to Nicole Cairney. Nicole took one touch and knocked the ball past the keeper into the far corner of the net. A well worked and executed goal.
Queen’s made their first substitution of the game in the 67th minute with Abby Callaghan and Robin Gallagher replacing Emma Craig and Monica Harty. And it was an instant impact for Abby when two minutes after coming on St Johnstone’s Erinn McCafferty pulled back Abby and the referee awarded a penalty. Abby stepped up to take the spot kick but Ellie Mitchell once again pulled off a fine save to deny Abby her first goal of the season.
Less than a minute of play later Queen’s were awarded a second spot kick when St Johnstone’s Rebecca Robertson handled the ball. Captain Kane took the kick and smashed the ball into the net to take the score to 2-0 to the Spiders.
Ellie Kane added a third in the 79th minute when she stepped onto a superb cross from Robin Gallagher to knock the ball home from four yards out.
Queen’s then replaced Megan Quigley with Caitlin McKee.
Abby Callaghan added a fourth in the 87th minute. Great inter-passing by Taylor Davis and Ellie Kane put Nicole Cairney clear down the wing. Nicole drew defenders in before cutting the ball back to edge of the box for Abby to place the ball out of the reach of Ellie Mitchell and into the net.
Queen’s made their final change of the day replacing Darcy Molley and Taylor Davis with Hannah Fulton and Eve Pollok.
There was a late consolation goal for Saints when Jodie Ovens took advantage if indecision in the Queen’s defence to score in stoppage time.
Full-time: Queen’s Park 4 St Johnstone 1
Another very effective performance by Queen’s with Robin Gallagher and Eve Pollok making their Spiders debut.
Queen’s Park: Lauren McGregor, Taylor Davis (Hannah Fulton 90′), Rachael O’Neill, Ciara Bonner, Nicole Cairney, Ellie Kane, Monica Harty Robin Gallagher 67′), Leah Daly, Darcy Molley (Eve Pollock 90′), Megan Quigley (Caitlin McKee 80′), Emma Craig (Abby Callaghan 67′).
Subs not used: Chloe Gibney, Rachael McConnachie, Chloe Docherty.
St Johnstone: Mitchell, Cowie (Simson), MacIver, Clark (McCafferty), Newbigging (Ovens), M.Steedman, Brady, Paterson (Irvine), Malcolm(Begg), Robertson.
Subs not used: Burns, Carter, Steedman, Cochran
Starting Eleven
Team line-Ups
