Old Guard on the spot as Swifts progress

Keeper Mark Mitchell saved 2 penalties in the shoot out as Swifts made it through to the last 4 of the GA Engineering Cup on Saturday. Manager Ross Gunnion took the winning penalty but it was he heroics of the Swifts number 1 that kept Jeanie in the cup following misses from Kevyn Fowler & Daniel Kelly.

Swifts travelled North to Banchory without several players. Jordan Kinnon, Alan Campbell, Fraser Smith & Chris Dodd were all injured while John Anderson was unavailable. Lee Deans was on the bench along with Anthony Holt who was not match fit & Robbie Holden who got out of his sick bed to make the journey.ell

On a very bumpy surface it took a while to get into our game but once he did we had a great chance to open the scoring. Scott Mollison chased down a through ball & was taken out by the goalie just as he was away to open his Jeanfield account. The referee issued a yellow card as Kelly placed the ball on the spot. Sadly for the talented midfielder his strike his the post and went past for a goal kick. Swifts did take the lead not long after & it was Chris McLeish who edged another goal closer to Holt.

He cut in from the right & shot towards goal & the ball went underneath the big keeper & into the net to give Swifts a well deserved lead. Soon after we were pegged back when a cross from the right was allowed into the box and number 8 got ahead of the defence to poke past Mitchell.

Swifts went into the break in the lead & it was Kelly who made amends following earlier miss. He met a near post Anton corner & bulleted a header into the net. Fantastic header from the wee man.

The second half was a battle with Swifts looking to hold on to lead & hit on the break while the home side were pushing forward looking for the equiliser. In 93 minutes they got that goal. A free kick was launched into the box & fell to a Saints forward. His shot was blocked at close range by the face of Sean Fleming who fell to the ground. Referee played on but linesman flagged for a penalty and the number 10 stepped up to slot in with the last kick of the game.

Swifts had to regroup quickly for the penalties & most of the squad seemed keen to step up to the plate. The home side scored first then Holt stepped up and done what he always does from the spot to level the scores. Once again the home team scored then Fowler stepped up. His effort sailed over the ball & I think the ball is still flying round orbit as we speak. The home side increased that lead & it looked like Swifts were heading out as Lewis Baker stepped up & scored a vital penalty.

The next Saints played joined Fowler in flying high in the sky as McLeish slotted in to make it 3 all. Mitchell they made his first save flying to his left to give Kelly the chance to clinch it for Swifts. He smacked it down the middle but the keeper stood still & the ball hit him. Mitchell then got a big left hand to the next penalty leaving Gunnion as the man to slot home the winning penalty thus sending us down the road to Perth very happy.