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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Matthew Gallagher

Ellie May Cowie goal was "special moment" as St Johnstone continued strong form

St Johnstone are aiming for a clean sweep of victories to finish the Scottish Women’s Premier League 2 season.

And head coach Grant Scott knows his players will battle for second spot right to the very last whistle.

Saints, who have five games remaining, sit fourth in the standings - five points back of both third-placed Boroughmuir Thistle and second-placed Glasgow Women.

“The league is really interesting,” Scott told the PA.

“Glasgow, Boroughmuir, ourselves and Kilmarnock are all probably there or thereabouts in standard.

“I think we can all beat each other so it’s going to be really interesting to see what happens.

“A lot has to happen that we can’t control but we’ll give it everything we’ve got and will try to win five out of five.

“That’s a tall order but it really has to be our aim.”

Saints’ positive momentum continued on Sunday thanks to a 4-2 home win against Queen’s Park.

Hannah Clark, Ellie May Cowie, Alex Robson and Alix Moodie netted the Perth team’s goals.

Scott said: “We praised them for reacting well to the equalising goal.

“I personally felt that, when we got the third, there was no way we were going to lose the game.”

The second goal, a long-ranger from Cowie, was particularly impressive.

“The goalkeeper was out of her area,” Scott recalled. “It was instinctive and she executed it perfectly.

“Ellie May has that about her and does a lot of stuff in her game off the cuff.

“She is a very good footballer and occasionally she has that special moment in her.

“We are encouraging her to do those kind of things more often.

“When she plays with her head up and you see her in full flow, she is a real joy to watch.

“We encourage them all the time to be more positive in their play. I like my teams to play fast, attacking football.

“It’s the old cliché that if you don’t shoot, you don’t score.”

Queen’s Park again provide the opposition this Sunday, albeit the fixture will be in Glasgow.

Saints will likely be required to name a changed squad due to player unavailability.

But Scott insists that simply gives others the opportunity to stake a claim and show what they are capable of.

“We’re down four and also have Ellie MacIver nursing a wee injury,” he said. “We’ll give her every chance.

“It’s going to be a slightly different team but it gives opportunities to players who haven’t played as regularly recently.

“Young Alex Robson got her first goal at the weekend so she can come in. She offered a real threat.

“We will have players who have been frustrated that they haven’t been in the team.

“Missing a few players can go against you, but can also work in your favour. Those coming in will have a fresh appetite to show what they can do.

“Everyone is in the squad because we believe in them. It’s very fine margins about picking one player over another.”

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