Swifts draw with Bluebell

Jeanfield travelled down to central Fife last night to play fellow 100%ers Dundonald Bluebell. Something had to give in what was a bruising encounter especially for several of the Swifts side.

Swifts started with the same eleven that had started in the wins against Thornton and Falkirk meaning that the returning Fraser Smith and Lewis Baker both had to settle for places on the bench.

On the soft pitch caused by heavy rain before the match both teams took a while to get use to the surface but it was the visitors who had the opening chance of the match. Sean Fleming played into Anthony Holt whose lay out found Chris McLeish who shot over the bar. Swifts were next to try their luck when a kick out from Mark Mitchell was flicked on by Chris McLeish to Daniel Kelly whose cross was just ahead of the forward line.

The first chance for the home side came from a poor Mark Mitchell clearance. It landed at the feet of red hot forward Callum Young but his effort from distance went wide of the target sparing the Swifts GKs blushes.

Next chance of the match fell to Swifts when Chris Anton passed to Daniel Kelly who turned and linked with Chris McLeish. The forward flicked it through to the onrushing Chris Dodd who was one on one with Lennox in the home goal who not for the only time in the game came out of top and deflected the ball wide for a corner. Chris McLeish then had a half chance when he burst on to a John Anderson flick but his effort was cleared from danger.

It was the home side who came closest to opening the scoring when Keatings crossed from the right and the ball hit the top of the bar and away to safety.

Swifts took the lead just after the half hour following a foul on Chris Dodd. Sean Fleming played a quick free kick to the winger who cut inside and crossed for JOHN ANDERSON to head into the bottom corner to give us the lead. Swifts had one more chance when Daniel Kelly collected a throw in from Sean Fleming and played to Chris McLeish. His strike beat the keeper but was cleared by the covering defenders.

Dundonald had a chance to level when Lawrie broke along the bye line and cut back to Young but he hit the ball over the bar meaning Swifts went into the break with a 1 goal lead.

It was the home side who came very close to levelling the game when Lawrie was allowed time to cross to the back post where Young met it with his head but once again the bar came to Swifts rescue.

Minutes later Forbes of Dundonald was given a 2nd yellow card following an elbow on John Anderson.

For some reason despite having the extra man Swifts started to surrender possession easily instead of moving the ball about they allowed the home side to continue pressing. Swifts were defending this well until a deep cross into the box was headed past Mark Mitchell by Lawrie to give the Fife side hope that they could take the 3 points.

The visitors fought their way back into the game but attacks were being broken up by fouls from the home side which on another day could have resulted in further players being sent off. Swifts then created 3 really goods chances to win the game and keep up our 100% record.

First Daniel Kelly won the ball near half way and broke through but instead of passing to the unmarked Chris McLeish he decided to go round the keeper and was forced out of the park. Next Chris Dodd found Chris McLeish in the box but Lennox once again stopped on Swifts number 9 from scoring. Lastly Kevyn Fowler played in Daniel Kelly but once again that man Lennox saved and earned a point for his side.

Overall Swifts will be disappointed that they did not take 3 points having played 40 minutes against 10 men but they created more chances than the home side and on another day could have went back to Perth with 3 points.