Hat-trick hero Morgan Steedman received plenty of plaudits after starring for St Johnstone WFC on Wednesday.
The striker hit top form to net three for the Perth side in an entertaining 4-3 league win against Boroughmuir Thistle at McDiarmid Park.
Ellie May Cowie was also on the scoresheet on an evening that witnessed skipper Jade Greenshields make her first start of the season after having a little girl three months ago.
Head coach Jason McCrindle was delighted to watch Steedman get among the goals.
“I am over the moon for Morgan because she has been putting a lot of pressure on herself to score goals,” he told the PA.
“We don’t judge her on her goals. It’s more about her performances and the quality that she brings to the team.
“But of course getting the goals will do her the world of good. We told her to play with a freedom and I’m just really happy that she got the hat-trick. It was thoroughly deserved.”
McCrindle was pleased with the overall performance but would have much preferred if the final minutes weren’t so nervy.
Saints looked to have the game out of sight at 4-1 up with 15 minutes remaining before two quick-fire Boroughmuir finishes.
“We stripped everything back to the basics,” said McCrindle. "We wanted them to express themselves because that is when they are at their best.
“We saw that for the first 75 minutes when we were 4-1 up. We were looking good.
“We lost a couple of goals and it set up a nervy finish, but we were determined to win the game.
“In previous weeks we might have lost another so they deserve credit for standing tall and seeing out the victory.”
Saints make the trip to sixth-placed Kilmarnock on Sunday for their last away game of the season.
