Swifts hit Falkirk for 6

Swifts were on their travels again on Saturday as they headed to the banks of the River Forth for our first meeting with Falkirk Juniors.

The hosts were formed in 2011 and play home games at the Grangemouth Athletics Stadium which comes complete with a 1000 seated stand. They finished runners up to Haddington in the South Division last season after a long unbeaten run clinched promotion.

The pitch looked in a good condition and despite a few holes that had been caused by shot putts some good passing football was produced by both sides. Maybe this could happen at the Grammer School too???

Swifts travelled down with almost the same squad as had defeated Thornton Hibs on Wednesday expect Lewis Baker who was unavailable. The bench was made up of players from our under 21s and under 17s.

In an even opening period the visitors were first to threaten following a long run down the left from Chris Dodd. He cut the ball across to Tony Holt whose shot was well saved by the keeper and cleared for a throw. From the resultant throw, Sean Fleming crossed into the box but John Anderson could only head over the bar. The home side then had a half chance when a deep corner into the box was headed well wide of Mark Mitchells goal. The hosts then came close again when a shot from the edge of the box whistled past the Swifts post.

Jeanfield took the lead when CHRIS MCLEISH chased down a pass back to the keeper who took a poor touch and the Swifts number 9 touched past him and passed the ball into the empty net. Swifts kept the pressure on and Kevyn Fowler won the ball in the midfield and drove forward before releasing the ball to Dodd in the wide area. The wide man went past his marker and his cross was deflected towards goal only to hit the foot of the post and wide for a corner. McLeish was next to try his luck when he collected a throw from Fleming and his looped effort was well held by the home keeper. From the resultant kick out Dodd collected the ball on the half line and drove forward forcing the home defence to backtrack to towards their own goal. Unfortunatley as he drove into the box his effort when fizzing past the post. Swifts has now taken control of the game and good link up play between Holt and McLeish following a pass from Chris Anton resulted in Holt being brought down just on the edge of the box. The free kick came to nothing and Swifts had to bide their time hoping for goal number 2.

That goal did arrive after Dodd once again run at defence only to be fouled on the corner of the box. From his free kick Anderson headed against the bar but MCLEISH was on hand again to head past the keeper and double his tally for the day.

There was no more goals as the visitors went into the break with a 2 goal lead.

Swifts started the second half on the front foot and by the time the clock had went to 65 minutes they had amassed a 6 goal lead.

First McLeish put pressure on a few poor passes in defence forcing a mistake which landed at the feet of ANDERSON 40 yards from goal. The striker noticed the keeper off his line and lobbed the ball over his head into the net for a 3-0 lead.

Anderson was on the score sheet again not long later. He started the move on the left switching the ball to Dodd who cut in from the right but his shot was blocked. The rebound fell perfectly in the path of ANDERSON who fired the ball into the net from the edge of the box for his second on the game.

That goal left McLeish and Anderson both looking for a hat trick but who was going to get it???

The answer was none as Swifts went 5-0 up. Holt played in Fowler on the left whose ball into the box fell at the feet of DANIEL KELLY who calmly stroked the ball into the net. It was soon 6 when McLeish flicked a pass through to JOHN BOOTH who volleyed past the keeper from the edge of the box to open his account for the Juniors.

The visitors then made a few changes in personelle but this seemed to stop the flowing football and allowed the home side to score 2 late goals that Swifts know could have been defended better.

Overall another good win on the road for the Juniors and this win allowed them to top the league on goal difference ahead of Dundonald Bluebell and Dalkeith Thistle.