Juniors Scottish dreams end

Jeanfields hopes of progressing in the national competition ended on Saturday with an agonising defeat against Super League Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic.

Late goals in the 88th and 92nd minutes ended our hopes of a replay and gave the visitors victory in front of the Riversides largest crowd of the season.

Both sides were in good form coming in to what was surely one of the ties of the round. Swifts were top of the Premier League while Rose were 3rd in the Super League but if they won games in hand would be 5 points clear at the top.

Lee Deans made his return to the starting 11 after almost 2 months out with a broken nose. The unfortunate Stuart McDermid dropped to the bench in a squad that was still missing the injured Scott Mollison and David Carr.

The opening was even on a heavy pitch with both teams trying to break each other down but the best chance to take the lead fell to Swifts. Chris Dodd played a ball forward which was chased down by Lewis Baker. He outmuscled the defender but sadly dragged his effort wide of target with just ex Scotland under 21 keeper Michael Andrews to beat. The visitors had the ball in the net soon after when McIntosh volleyed home from close range following a free kick but he has flagged for offside.

It was that man McIntosh who did give the away side the lead not long after. Horne broke forward and in towards the centre of the 18 yard box from his full back position with several Swifts players missing tackles. He shot for goal but it was deflected and it was McIntosh who reacted quickest and calmly clipped the ball past Mark Mitchell to give the large travelling support something to cheer about.

He came close once more when he capitalised on a poor Swifts clearance but the attempted chip narrowly went over Mitchells crossbar to safety. Swifts then started to control the game and Chris McLeish turned well in the box but his strike was blocked away for a Swifts corner. Daniel Kelly then headed over a Chris Anton cross but the number 10 was soon to have an even better chance to level the score just before the break.

McLeish picked up the ball in the wide area before playing it to Anthony Holt. The Swifts playmaker then slipped in Kelly who with only the keeper to beat lofted the ball over him but also over the bar meaning the home side went in behind at the break.

Gaffer Gunnion was up beat in his half time team talk stressing that the game was far from over and if we kept up the current performance then we would find our way back into the match.

But it was the visitors who started the second period on the front foot and Mitchell made a great save to stop McGachie increasing the lead then he was up quick to smother the rebound. Kidd then hit the post after a ball was floated in from the left and he got in front of a Swifts player but his flick came back off the upright.

Jeanfield held on and grew into the half with them soon getting the ball more and more into the Rose half. Chris Dodd passed to Holt whose shot was deflected wide for a corner with the keeper beaten. Dodd once more was involved when his crossfield pass was hammered towards goal by McLeish but it was parried by Andrews and fell to Baker who with an open goal unfortunately scooped the ball over the bar.

Minutes later the well deserved equiliser did come and it was that man Baker making up for his earlier miss. Anton crossed from the right and Baker swivelled his neck and headed to ball into the net to spark scenes on the Swifts bench. Sadly for the goalscorer he collided with the referee during the celebration and was injured with what was later confirmed to be a broken nose.

The home side were now on a high and taking the game to the visitors and following great play between Sean Fleming and Dodd, the full backs cross was just too far ahead of Baker who surely would have put Swifts into the lead.

Both teams were now trying to go for the goal which have gave the victory but in 88 minutes it was the Rose who punished slack play by Swifts hitting them on the counter and the ball was cut back to Archibald who had not been on the park to long who fired into the corner of the net to cheers of joys for the travelling faithful.

Minutes later the game was over when Horne intercepted a loose pass and released McIntosh who fired past Mitchell to give Swifts their 1st defeat of the season and finish the game at 3-1.

This match proved that Jeanfield can match the top Super League teams but also that they will punish you for any mistakes that you make. If Swifts can play like this more consistently this season then next season we will hopefully be playing Bonnyrigg on league business.