Swifts to the Four

Swifts got back to winning ways on Saturday with a convincing 4-1 win over inform Bathgate Thistle at Riverside Stadium. Doubles from Lewis Baker & Tony Holt saw the 3 points remain in Perth.

The home side went into this fixture with a point to prove after losing to Haddington & scrapping past Banchory on penalties the previous week. Most people had expected a tough game & a certain poster on Pie & Bovril could not wait to see us lose this weekend!!!

Jeanie made 3 changes to starting 11 from previous week with Holt, Robbie Holden & Lee Deans all coming back into the starting jerseys. Stuart McDermid & Scott Mollinson dropped to bench while Kevyn Fowler was declared unfit. Fraser Smith returned to the bench along with Assistant Manager John Anderson & his lucky towel.

Manager Ross Gunnion quoted Sir Dave Brailsford prior to kick off & it seemed to have the desired effort as Swifts raced into the lead with the opening 10 minutes. Chris McLeish intercepted a pass out of the Bathgate defence & slipped the ball through to Baker. The forward, fresh off his international call up, looked to have taken the ball too wide but then clinically despatched the ball into the far corner to give Swifts the perfect start.

It was soon 2-0 & it was that may Holt who scored from the spot. A well worked throw in on the right allowed captain Chris Anton to find Holt in the box. He has his back to goal & took ball on chest but was bundled to the ground by Nyang. Holt then stepped up to comfortably convert the spot kick.

With the half nearing its end Swifts increased their lead to 3 goal. Sean Fleming intercepted a poor cross field pass. He took a touch then with the outside of his left foot player a majestic through ball to Baker. Baker strolled on the ball & slipped the ball past the onrushing keeper from the edge of the box.

Just prior to the break the visitors were given a life line through poor Swifts defending. A long throw from the left was allowed to bounce in the home box. Jaconelli who looked like he had nowhere to go produced an overhead kick towards the Swifts keeper. Mark Mitchell looked to have it covered but the ball went into the net.

Swifts had to stay focused all not to allow Bathgate any chance to get back in to the game & killed it off when we were awarded a second penalty of the afternoon. Baker picked up the ball 30 yards from gaol & slipped a perfect pass to McLeish. He was set to shoot when he was clipped by the Bathgate right back. Once again Holt stepped up & confidently smashed the ball into the net for goal number 22 of the season. A personal best for the uber talented Swifts midfielder.

There was no more goals as Swifts clinched a vital 3 points in the race for the Super League