Late goal denies Swifts maximum poimts

A goal in added time denied Jeanfield all 3 points against the league leaders who maintained their 7 point gap over Swifts in front of a larger than normal Riverside crowd.

Ben Anthony stroked the ball home from close range for the visitors who also had 2 men sent off in added time.

Swifts went into the top of the table clash without the influential Daniel Kelly, Tony Holt & Lewis Baker which Scott Mollison was also unavailable for selection. Chris Dodd was only fit enough to make the bench.

It was the visitors who had the first chance when a Grady cross from the right was headed towards goal by Lawrie but was comfortably saved by Mark Mitchell. Up the other end Robbie Holden was inches away from a Chris McLeish ball that would have given the home side the lead. Mitchell then had too look sharp twice to deny Bluebell going ahead. Play was ranging from end to end & Stevie McManus tested Lennox with a shot from the edge of the box but the keeper dealt easily with it. Anthony was then played through but Mitchell was quick off his lines to smother the ball.

Grady then had a good chance to put visitors in lead when the ball broke following a corner but he smashed it across goal & wide. Holden then came close for Swifts when he headed a Fraser Smith cross from the right just over the bar. Just before the break the opening gaol arrived & it was for the league leaders.

Duffy who had just come on swung a free kick into the box & Mitchell could only palm it to Lawrie who smashed the ball into the empty net. Swifts had a chance to level when a McManus free kick from 25 yards was on target but Lennox saved easily thought his dive looked like it was for the cameras.

There was a few harsh words in the home dressing room with manager Gunnion demanding a far better performance in the second half & that he did get from his players.

Smith & Holden linked well once more with the latters shot being saved by the keeper for a corner. From the McManus corner McLeish flicked a header wide of target. At the other end Mitchell had to scramble a Lawrie shot wide for a corner. Lee Deans then had a chance to equilize when he met a Chris Anton free kick but his header was straight at the keeper. Swifts did level in 75 minutes following a foul on McLeish.

McManus stepped up & this time he found the corner of the net with the keeper well beaten. This brought a thunderous response from the Swifts support & bench who were delighted having dominated the second period. Dodd who had replaced Smith raced down the right cutting the ball back to McLeish who slipped to Kevyn Fowler but his effort found Harris Court instead of the back of the net!!!

Lennox then produced a great save to stop Swifts getting the lead. Sean Fleming crossed from the left & Dodd was ahead of his marker & got the slightest of touches while he was being fouled but the keeper made a top top save. It did look like a clear foul on the wide man thought. With 5 minutes left the home side took the lead that their second half display deserved. Fleming threw the ball into John Anderson who had just come on as sub. He passed to McManus who picked out the unmarked Holden who slotted high into the net & was instantly mobbed by his team mates.

With time running out Young played the ball across goal for Anthony to level the scores that sparked a mini pitch invasion from the travelling support. There was still time for Grady & Orrock to get sent off for violent conduct but the match finished level in a pulsating game.