Kilmarnock 0 Boroughmuir Thistle 1

Kilmarnock Women suffered a major blow in the SWPL 2 title race after a 1-0 defeat at home to Boroughmuir Thistle.

An own goal by Laura McLaughlin settled the tight encounter. Killie now know they need to win in the final game of the season at Queen’s Park next week and see what Spartans do in their game against Dundee United.

The opening 15 minutes was a battle of either team trying but failing to be composed in possession, as both sets of players frequently gifted the ball back.

The referee appeared to be taking a lenient approach to the game, with Boroughmuir twice escaping yellow cards for cynical fouls as Killie looked to be building promising attacks.

On 18 minutes, the hosts had a strong claim for a penalty waved away by the ref as Skye Stout’s shot on target was blocked at close-range.

After some toing and froing, with Jim Chapman’s side trying to create chances from wider areas, it was the visitors who found the net. The ball broke to Hall  n the box after a fortunate bounce. Her effort deflected in off McLaughlin after an initial save by Holly Kerrigan in the Killie goal.

Killie had a great chance to equalise during three minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first-half. Taylor McGlashan met Stout’s floated delivery, but her header was deflected wide of the target and out for another corner.

Georgina McTear was withdrawn at the interval in favour of Louise Cowan. And almost immediately from the re-start, Killie were nearly level. Stout latched onto a ball over the top of the Boroughmuir defence, but her finish agonisingly smacked off the crossbar as the hosts came close to a leveller.

Chances were at a premium as Killie chased a goal. Substitute Lauryn Reside came close with a racking long-range effort. McGlashan then saw her header from a wicked corner delivery go narrowly wide of the target as the girls in blue and white pushed hard.

It was Boroughmuir who came closest to scoring, though. The visitors were awarded a penalty after one of their forwards was up-ended inside the area. But Kerrigan saved the spot kick well to keep the score at 1-0 on 85 minutes.

Team: Kerrigan, McTear (Cowan, 45’), Martin, O’Brien, McGlashan, Gray (Crainie, 87‘), Robinson, McLaughlin, Stout (Bulloch, 65’), Canavan (Osborne, 65’), McKean (Reside, 56’).

Unused subs: Currie, Gallagher, Cullie, Hanvey.