Mitchell keeps Swifts in Cup

Mark Mitchell was the Swifts hero at the weekend with 2 saves in the penalty shoot out that earned Swifts a win over Tayport in the East of Scotland Cup.

The Perth side threw away a 2 goal lead in normal time after a scintillating opening 20 minutes saw them race into a 2 goal lead however a period of similar length in the second half saw the home side draw level.

Swifts made 4 changes to the side who earned a point at Linlithgow. In came Mitchell making a welcome return in the goal after Stevie Blairs cameo, Sean Fleming into the defence, Chris Scott and Scott Sutherland who recently extended his loan until the end of season came back into the attack. Stuart McDermid, Fraser Smith and Lewis Baker were the unfortunate pair to drop out.

Jeanie took the lead inside 10 minutes when a pass from Ross Gunnion found Sutherland in behind the home defence. The young forwards shot was blocked but fell to Scott who crossed to the back post where Daniel Kelly got ahead of his man to knock the ball into the net.

Not long after the lead was doubled and it was the perfect counter attacking goal.

A Tayport free kick into the Swifts box was cleared, after a penalty appeal and fell to the feet of Chris Anton near the touchline. He played the ball up to Scott who flicked inside to Keith Dewar and continued his run forward. Dewar saw Sutherland on the run and found him with the pass. The speedy forward got the break of the ball and bore towards the goal line before crossing for the unmarked Scott to head past Sorley. Coincidentally this is Swifts 1st headed goal since John Anderson scored against Lugar Boswell Thistle in the Scottish Cup on September 24.

With a 2 goal lead it was hoped that Swifts would control the second half but the home side started well and capitalised on a poor clearance to get back into the game. Alvarez picked the ball up on the edge of the box and curled past Mitchell into the net to give the home side hope. That hope became reality soon after when Alvarez picked out Paterson in the box and he shot past Mitchell to to the far corner to level the scores up.

With no more goals the game went to a penalty shoot out.

Swifts went 1st and were always ahead through Tony Holt, Smith, Scott & Stevie McManus. Tayport scored their opening 3 penalties before Mitchell pulled off an excellent save giving Gunnion the chance to clinch the win. The ex Tayport legend was previously scored the winning penalty in 3 shoot outs for Swifts but this time Sorley guessed correctly and saved.

However with the next penalty Mitchell again came to the rescue and put Swifts in to the next round.