Juniors hold on to claim the points

John Anderson scored the winner early in the second half as Jeanfield collected a vital 3 points that kept them in the promotion places with a third of the season played.

Gaffer Ross Gunnion made one change to last weeks victorious team with Anderson coming in for Lewis Baker. Scott Mollison made a welcome return to the bench along with a trialist and new signing Keith Dewar who returned to Riverside following a spell with Scone Thistle. Still unavailable due to injuries were David Carr, Lee Deans, Fraser Smith and Jordan Kinnon.

The visitors, last seasons South League winners were making their first trip to Perth and came with lots of confidence following last weeks comfortable 5-1 win over Falkirk.

The home side were first to threaten and it was the ever dangerous Chris Dodd who ran down the wing and passed to Anderson. The big striker turned in the box but his effort went wide of Balds goal. The Swifts Assistant should have opened the scoring in the 8th minute when he headed over the bar with the goal gaping following a Chris McLeish header that hit the bar. Surely puts "The Fridge" up there for miss of the season with Fraser Smiths attempt against Edinburgh United. Dodd was next to try his luck when he cut in from the wide area be he shot wide of target. Swifts were on top and playing some good stuff and a flick from Anderson sent McLeish through on goal but his tame effort was easily picked up by the keeper.

In 26 minutes the opening goal did come for the home side. Anderson fed the ball to McLeish at the edge of the box. He made his way towards the byeline and crossed to the back post where Chris Dodd was unmarked and volleyed into the net to give Swifts a well deserved lead.

Swifts came close not long after when a Chris Anton free kick was just inches away from a touch by several players that would have seen the ball end up in the net. The HiHi levelled in 37 minutes when the left back drove forward and passed to Martin who looked to be in an offside position. The striker cut inside and clipped the ball past Mitchell ignoring the protests of the Jeanfield defence to level the scores. Swifts almost retook the lead when Anderson got his head to a Dodd corner and it rolled across the 6 yard box but was brought to an end when the referee spotted a foul.

The second period was only 6 minutes old when Jeanie scored what turned out to be the winning goal. The visitors were trying to pass out from the back when the keeper attempted to clip the ball wide. McLeish managed to get there before the defender and crossed for John Anderson who slid the ball into the unguarded net for his 10th goal of the season.

McLeish was once again causing the opposition problems with his direct running and he fired wide of target following one of those trademarks run. The visitors then came close when their captain had two attempts from the edge of the box with the second going over the bar after the original was blocked by the resolute hoe defence. Swifts came close to extending the lead when Kevyn Fowler, not known for his shooting abilities, unleashed one from 25 yards that smacked off the bar with the keeper beaten all ends up. McLeish then set up Dodd whose attempted side foot effort when past the post. Haddington were then awarded a free kick almost 30 yards out. Paterson took the kick and it looked to have beaten Mitchell but the Swifts number 1 got a strong hand to it and turned the ball wide. The away side were now on top and pressing the Swifts rear guard back towards their own goal without causing much trouble for the well marshalled back line.

Anthony Holt was then close to extending the lead. His free kick from the corner of the box went agonisingly wide of the far post when it looked like it was away to nestle into the far corner. Haddington pushed for the leveller and had a half change with a free header 8 yards out that went over the bar. McLeish then tried to add to his seasons tally when he received a throw from Anton but shot over. Keith Dewar then made his return to the black and white stripes when he replaced Holt although it took a bit longer than expected due to him having the wrong shirt number on!!!

Skipper Anton then had to flick away a dangerous cross from the left with a HiHi forward ready to pounce if he had missed. The ball was now being launched towards the home box but a header from the penalty spot was easily scooped up by Mitchell and Swifts held on to claim a valuable 3 points.

Next week Jeanie get a break from league duty when we travel down to New Cumnock to face Glenafton Athletic in the 2nd round of the Scottish Junior Cup. The Ayrshire side were finalists 2 seasons ago and Swifts must be at their best if they are to progress in the competition.