Swifts held at Home

Jeanfield ended 2016 with a home draw against City of Discovery based Broughty Athletic.

An end to end game saw Swifts ahead at the break through veteran forward Robbie Holden but the visitors hit back and claimed a point equilising half way through the second period before the goal scorer was sent off in the final 10 minutes.

The home side started on the front foot and nearly took the lead when Chris Scott hit the bar from close range following a Scott Mollison corner that fell to him in the box. Lewis Baker was next to be denied when twice his shot were blocked by good defending as Swifts applied pressure. Baker was denied once more this time by the goalkeeper following a good turn at the edge of the box which produced a good save. Swifts were in control and Keith Dewar slipped in Scott whose cross was deflected over the bar for a corner with the defender hoping that he did not end up opening the scoring.

The Fed came into the game as the half wore on and started to text Mark Mitchell in the Swifts goal. He made a comfortable save from the edge of the box and then following a corner blocked shots twice as the visitors threatened to take the lead.

Swifts were then denied what they thought was a penalty. Scott Sutherland broke through and went round the keeper and fell to the floor. No penalty was given and there was also no card for the forward just a goal kick for Broughty.

Sutherland was growing into the game and was involved as Swifts took the lead.

His header was picked up by Holden who dropped the shoulder and went past his man before firing into the net beating the keeper at the near post to give Swifts a deserved lead.

It could have been a 2 goal lead minutes later when Baker flicked on a cross from Scott and the ball fell to Sutherland at the back post. All the Cowdenbeath loanee had to do was fire the ball into the net but it took a poor bounce and ran away from the forward.

Into the second half and it was Swifts who once again started on the front foot.

From a long kick out by Mitchell goalscorer Holden had a shot blocked with several Swifts players asking the officials for a penalty. Baker then tried his luck with an overhead kick after a Scott cross then Baker was denied again when the keeper made a top save to palm his free kick away to safety.

The game was going end to end as the visitors started to create chances as they looked to level the score.

First a cross was headed wide when Mitchell should have been made to make a save but the leveler did come and it was one which Swifts could have defended better.

Clark broke past several challenges before firing the ball past Mitchell.

Broughty nearly took the lead when Buchan crossed from the right and fellow sub Hester got to the ball before Mitchell but his effort went marginally wide of the target.

With the game going into the last 10 minutes Broughty goalscorer Clark was sent off for a second bookable offence.