Head coach Jason McCrindle hailed the support from the sidelines as St Johnstone WFC picked up a first win of the season on Sunday.
Saints were backed by a bumper crowd at the Riverside Stadium and that helped inspire them to a 2-1 victory against Queen’s Park.
Young fans from the Jeanfield Swifts pathway, kitted out with good luck banners, made the afternoon even more special.
Laura Wight opened the scoring for the Perth side before the visitors hit back, but Ellie-May Cowie grabbed the winner to spark great scenes of celebration.
McCrindle said: “It felt like a big day and a real occasion for us. We hadn’t played in front of spectators for a long time.
“The youth pathway from Jeanfield Swifts was there. It felt like a big occasion. There wasn’t added pressure, but the girls just didn’t want to let anyone down. The win was really important for confidence and belief.
“The support made them feel part of something and the players obviously wanted to do it for themselves too.
“They would have done anything for the win. They were prepared to do whatever it took and I think they deserved it in the end.”
Following a few weeks of transition, this Scottish Women’s Premier League 2 win meant a lot to all at Saints.
“There was a little relief after putting so much into the last few weeks,” McCrindle continued. “I was really happy for them at full-time and delighted to have that winning feeling. It has been a long four or five weeks.
“I felt we were unfortunate against Glasgow Women and had actually played better and lost. On Sunday we needed to grind it out.
“It now gives them a platform and something to build on. We’re not thinking where that win is going to come from.”
Securing that first victory will provide a timely boost heading into this weekend’s league trip to Stirling University.
“We need to continue to improve and will go to Stirling in a better frame of mind and with a wee bit more confidence,” McCrindle said.
“The confidence was maybe shot a wee bit. But the players have come together. There was a real togetherness on Sunday.
“Everything we do is trying to be positive. We’re always looking to build on the good things that we do.
“It wasn’t a case of feeling sorry for ourselves and almost being like a target for teams. We don’t want to be an easy target. We always want to make it difficult for teams and I felt on Sunday we were hard to play against and beat.”
On what he is expecting from Stirling, McCrindle continued: “Their results are a little bit unpredictable and I’m not too sure what their situation is with getting students in.
“But again we just need to focus on ourselves, build on Sunday and get the momentum going.
“We certainly go through there with nothing to fear, that is for sure. We’ll be going to win the game and that is the message we’ll put across to the players in training.”
