Boroughmuir Thistle boss Suzi Shepherd was “delighted” with her sides impressive away win at Queens Park in SWPL 2.
A double from Maria Novoa and an Anna Murray strike saw Thistle leapfrog their rivals to seventh while the Spiders - who had a had a first half penalty well saved by Katie Moodie - moved down to ninth.
“Its three points, it’s a clean sheet,” Shepherd told Anyone’s Game.
“Parts of the game were scrappy but when we did get the ball down and play to the game plan a thought we played some really good stuff”.
The boss, whose side could now move level on points with sixth-place Glasgow Women when the sides meet on Sunday, was impressed with her forwards, while she also heaped praised on goalkeeper Moodie who was making just her second appearance of the season.
She said: “Three really well worked goals, I am delighted.
“We know Katie has that in her locker. She works really hard, we have two keepers who work really hard and are supportive of each other so Katie has had her chance and came in and made a great save.”
This game started at a frantic pace with Queens Park, who were looking for their first win since the season restarted, being awarded a penalty when Mhairi Fyfe was upended by Moodie in the Boroughmuir goal.
Fyfe dusted herself down to take the kick, but Moodie atoned for her error by diving to her left and saving Fyfe’s effort.
Playmaker Novoa was a constant threat for Thistle. First she had a shot excellently saved on the line from Queens defender Wan Tung Ho, but she was not to be denied and gave Thistle the lead after a great pass from Murray found Bryony Ross on the right, she played an inch perfect pass to Novoa, and with one touch she beat her marker and slotted home.
Queens thought they had equalised after the talented Demi Potts set up Fyfe who had the ball in the net only for the linesman’s flag to rule it out.
The second half began with both sides hitting the post. A stramash in the Spiders penalty box somehow came back off the post before Queens won a corner only for Emily Shearer to see her cross cannon back off the post.
It was not to be Queens day, though, and Thistle pretty much dominated from then on in. They grabbed their second of the evening after another mix up in the Queens defence and the ball fell to Murray who guided home.
Thistle wrapped up the points at the end after great work down the right by substitute Beth McLeod. She beat two Queens defender before picking out Novoa at the edge of the box and she riffled home the third.
Next up for Queens Park is a short trip to Ayrshire to play eight paced Kilmarnock while Boroughmuir Thistle host sixth placed Glasgow Women.
Anyone’s Game Player of the match
Maria Novoa a constant threat for Thistle; scored two goals and was involved in everything Thistle did. An outstanding performance.
Special mention to Queens Park’s Demi Potts who ran her heart out down the right hand side and caused Thistle defenders constant problems, but it just wasn’t her night.
Queen's Park 0-3 Boroughmuir Thistle: Suzi Shepherd 'delighted' after impressive win