Swifts claim 3 points on the road

Swifts got only their second away clean sheet of the season as goals from January signings Stevie McManus & Robbie Holden gave them a vital 3 points way at Kennoway Star Hearts.

Jeanie made their 1st ever trip to Treaton Park without Lewis Baker who is in Sweden working. McManus replaced him in the starting 11. Kevyn Fowler made the bench while Chris Dodd & Jordan Kinnon returned to matchday squad but were not fit enough to be listed on teamlines.

Swifts started by shooting down the hill but took a while to adapt to the bumpy pitch with poor touches & passes going astray on a regular basis. The away side were first to threaten when Sean Fleming switched to ball to Tony Holt. His dangerous cross was cleared for a corner. From that corner, Lee Deans set up McManus who fired just wide from distance. Mark Mitchell in the Jeanie goal then had to look sharp to clear 2 very dangerous corners from Band under pressure from several Kennoway players.

Chris McLeish then forced keeper Paterson into tipping his header over the bar following Keith Dewar cross. Player Manger Ross Gunnion then had a half chance from a Holt cross but he got underneath the header and it didn't cause any harm to the goalkeeper. Minutes later Scott Mollison replaced Daniel Kelly who has struggling with illness but put in a good shift in the time he was on the park. Holt then had a chance with a free kick almost 30 yards out. He got this effort on target nut it was easy pickings for Paterson.

Holden then had a great chance to open the scoring when a deflected shot fell into his path. With only the keeper to beat he struck it straight as the keeper who stood up well forcing Holden to shoot at him.

Finally just before half time Swifts did take the lead. A Holt shot was deflected high into the air and Holden challenged The keeper who spilled the ball at the strikers feet. Holden reacted and shot towards goal but a defender got back to block then McManus followed up and after a stramash on the goal line he forced the ball into the net. Macca usually scores wonder goals from 25 yards plus but this must have been no more than 25mm giving Swifts the half time lead.

Jeanie were then shooting up the hill in second period but that did not stop them from creating chances. Some intricate play between McManus, Holden and McLeish saw the later have a shot which was well saved.

The home sides best chance came when Gray beat Mitchell to a long ball over the top. His toe poke was heading into the unguaded net when Gunnion managed to knock it past the post just before the line. Was it great desire from the gaffer or just due to the slope on the park that he managed to get there? I will let you decide.

Fraser Smith who had came on for Holt was next to try his luck. The referee played a good advantage following a foul on Mollison and the midfielder drove forward but his left foot strike went over the bar by a small margin. Once again McManus, Holden and McLeish linked up well and again it was the later who had the shot on goal. This time he sliced it into the side netting.

The away side were defending well and soon the second goal came and it was following a poor kick from Paterson in goal. McLeish picked up the ball and drove towards the goal line. He cut the ball back to Holden and he fired the ball into the corner of the net.

There was only one more chance in the 90 minutes and it fell to John Anderson who had replaced the knackered Holden. A deep Chris Anton cross has header towards goal by the Jeanie Legend from about 18 yards and with the keeper beat it hit the bar and away to safety.

Coach Eric Fleming commented " A very workman like performance on a tricky surface without reaching the highs of last week. Most importantly of all it was 3 points ahead of next weeks tough test"

A good 3 points on a difficult surface ahead of next week when league leaders Dundonald Bluebell come to Riverside Stadium.