Swifts fall prey to Falcons

The U13s travelled to Forfar to face league leaders Falcons on the back of a great win against their sister team the Foxes in the Scottish Cup. However, the Falcons were to prove a stronger challenge.

The Swifts girls started brightly, immediately going on the attack and pressing hard. The away team arguably had the better of the opening exchanges, and dominated possession for the first quarter. However, it was the Falcons who took the lead with a powerful shot.

Jeanfield quickly equalised and proved that they were well worth their position at the top of the league, equal on points with the Falcons going into this game. When the Falcons then went back into the league a short time later, the Swifts again responded well, and capitalised on a fumble by the Falcons' keeper. With half-time approaching, and the Falcons having already made a number of key substitutions, Jeanfield were still every bit in the game. Indeed they were disappointed to go into half-time all square, having had what looked like a perfectly legitimate goal disallowed as the referee didn't realise the ball had crossed the line.

Starting the second half full of optimism, therefore, the away girls hopes took an early knock when the Falcons scored two quick goals. All was not lost at this stage, however, and the Swifts were still capable of pressuring the Falcons' defence into rushed clearances, and won a number of corners.

As the half wore on, however, the Falcons began to exert their superior physical strength, and playing against the slope the Swifts were struggling to clear the ball or progress beyond half-way. Three more goals followed by the Falcons, and the final score of 7-2 will have disheartened the Swifts, who felt at half-time that they were still in with a shout.

Nevertheless, they can take confidence from the fact that for the first half of the game they stayed with the strongest team in the league, probably one of the strongest in the region. The Swifts are the first team to score against the Falcons in the league this season, and they can approach their next league game with their heads held high.