A week past Sunday saw our first win of 2024 coming in our first home match of the year, against Livingston. Saints already have a victory over the West Lothian side in the Sky Sports Cup this season, but have since suffered two defeats in the league.
Saints started brightly and their first opportunity came just two minutes in. Niamh Irvine picked up the ball out on the right and passed it to Alix Moodie who, from twenty yards, forced Ashley Watson to save down to her left forcing a corner.
After five minutes Saints were ahead. Jodie Malcolm did well out on the left wing to turn her defender and cross a ball in where Elvie McLean took a touch with her right foot to bring it down, held off two defenders, and slotted home with her left foot from eight yards out.
At the other end, Livingston had a corner which was punched well clear by Bobby Cochran who was making her first start since returning to the club at the end of last season. There were a few half chances, and some at times sketchy defending from the Saints rear guard, but they kept Livingston, who have scored 11 goals against Saints this season, at bay.
Saints nearly had a second when after twenty minutes, a Nicole Carter corner found its way to Ellie May Cowie at the back post whose powerful volley came crashing off the cross bar.
There would be a Carter and Cowie connection in Saints second goal which came on the half hour. After neat build up play involving Niamh Irvine, Elvie McLean and Jodie Malcolm, Elvie played a slide rule pass to Nicole Carter who got to the byline inside the penalty area and cut back for Ellie May Cowie to knock it home from a couple yards out.
Half time saw Livingston make a triple substitution as former Saint Eilidh Begg, Lauren Evans and Vhairi Munro made way for Anna Dickov, Ashley Elizabeth and Shannon Hughes-Lee. They certainly had an impact as Saints would find themselves having to absorb much more pressure than they had in the first half.
Ashley Elizabeth would twice force Bobby Cochran into making saves. albeit comfortable ones in the second half. Anna Dickov also tested Cochran but again her efforts were easily gathered.
Saints did create a few opportunities in the second half. Substitute Steffi Simson more than once found herself one on one with Ashley Watson in the Livingston goal, with Watson each time beating Simson to the ball.
Saints Captain Rebecca Robertson also had an effort late in proceedings, tee’d up by Laura Steedman, but she was unable to keep it on target. Attacking midfielder Olivia Hurrell and midfielder Mariluz Sanchez both came off the bench to make official debuts, with Sanchez having already featured as a trialist in two matches prior to Christmas.
There was late Livingston pressure, but Saints saw the match out and they sit fifth in the league, with a four point gap and a game in hand over Glasgow Women sitting in sixth place.