Juniors defeat Ayrshire giants

Jeanfield produced 1 of their best results in years, if not the best in Perthshire Junior football for a long time, when they defeated Glenafton Athletic in their own back yard in the second round of the Scottish Junior Cup. Goals from Anthony Holt with 2 and Chris McLeish gave Ross Gunnions side a memorable victory.

The Afton are one of the Junior games biggest names having won the national trophy in the early 90s under the stewardship of ex Scotland goalkeeper Alan Rough and were finalists in 2014 losing to Ayrshire rivals Hurlford. Despite their unbeaten start to the season Swifts were still the underdogs despite the home side propping up the West Super League table. Nobody outside of the Jeanfield camp expected nothing other than a home win but the Swifts were to prove them wrong.

Gaffer Gunnion made only one change to last weeks team which had beaten Haddington with Lewis Baker coming in to replace the ill John Anderson who was down with tonsillitis. Still unavailable were Lee Deans, Fraser Smith, David Carr and Scott Mollison although Jordan Kinnon was back on the bench following his concussion.

It was the home side who started well and Mark Mitchell palmed a cross back into the box and Sean Fleming made a great block to stop Swifts going behind in under 5 minutes. Swifts were struggling to get on the back but Chris McLeish picked up a loose ball but drove his effort wide of target. Tony Holt then took aim with a free kick from 25 yards but this flew over the bar. Maybe he was just finding his range for later on!!! The home side took the lead in 11 minutes when Kevyn Fowler was dispossessed in midfield after some neat play out of defence by Swifts. The ball went left then back to centre before it was slipped wide to the right where the on rushing Ally Park fired past Mitchell in the Jeanfield goal.

Swifts were now starting to get a foot hold and were playing some good stuff but the home side were defending well but then Chris Dodd was brought down in full flight just at the corner of the box. Tony Holt stepped up and as against Dalkeith and North End curled the ball into the top corner of the net to draw Jeanie level.

This gave Jeanie confidence and the impressive Daniel Kelly came close when he shot past the post following some unbelievable footwork that left several players in his wake. Lewis Baker who was impressing then had a chance when he latched on to a Mitchell kick out. He went to take it past the keeper but touch was not strong enough and the keeper did well to make not 1 but 2 saves before the ball was cleared for a corner. Dodd was next to try his luck when following some neat passing play his shot was easily saved by the home keeper. Glenafton were awarded a corner just on half time but Swifts cleared and broke quickly with Kelly and McLeish having a 2 on 1 situation with a home defender. Kelly drove towards the box and passed to his fellow forward who took a touch but this allowed the keeper to set and make a save keeping the scores level at the break.

The home side forced several quick corners at start of the second half but these were all dealt with by the resolute Swifts defence with young Stuart McDermid again impressing in his first season at this level. Swifts took the lead soon after when the home side failed to clear a Dodd. The ball came back to the winger who made for the bye line and crossed to Holt. He lobbed it towards the far post where the keeper fumbled the ball and McLeish was on hand to give Swifts the lead and put the support into dreamland. Could Swifts really defeat one of the biggest names in the Juniors???

This brought the home side out to attack and Swifts had to work hard and keep their shape and discipline if they wanted to hold on to this lead. Glenafton were throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at the Swifts backline who were putting their bodies on the line. Skipper Chris Anton made a great block to stop a goal bound shot then Mitchell had to look sharp to not get past at his near post after Jeanfield were caught trying to play out of the back. A corner was then played across the Swifts box and was headed wide with the player on the post covering and making sure it did not go in. In a rare attack Tony Holt was given a free kick outside the box. He stepped up and aimed towards the top corner but this time the keeper came out on top palmed the ball wide for a corner. The visiting dug out when now shouting for the referee to blow his whistle when he stated that there was still 5 minutes of added time to be played!! Afton were throwing everything forward to get the leveller but they huffed and the puffed but they could not blow the Jeanfield house down!!!

The last word was for that man Holt once more. He latched on to a flick on from a Mitchell goal kick and coolly lobbed the ball into the net from 30 yards. This sparked jubilant scenes on the Swifts bench with all the players, backroom staff and even Mitchell rushing from his goal, still not as quick as me at the astro though, to celebrate with the goal scorer. As soon as the ball hit the net the referee blew his whistle to give Jeanfield a famous victory and a place in the next round of the cup.

A fantastic team performance from all who took part. The boys stuck to the game plan and came away with a victory which should give them confidence as the season goes on. Even better was the day by the fact that I won the quiz. Big thanks to Jordan Kinnon who brought the quiz together and gave me the answers!!!