Swifts secure first ever Senior Honour with League Cup Success

Swifts travelled to Alloa to take part in the 1st Division League Cup Final. Opponents for the day were Hibs Development. Both teams have come through the ranks together and always enjoyed a healthy relationship, and it was unfortunate that Alfie Smith's wedding clashed with the final. Ultimately it was Swifts who were to win the tie with a strong second half performance that finally shook off their brave opponents.
The tie started off in a nervous manner with neither side handling the wind well. The best early chance fell to McGinley who linked well with McIntyre and saw her shot saved. After shading the early stages Swifts then found themselves on the back foot as Hibs settled and came back strongly. They tested Swifts out wide but Leiper and McLeod were in determined mood. As the half progressed evenly it was Swifts who got the all important first goal. Todd did well and fed McIntyre who found McGinley with a clever reverse pass. McGinley still had a lot to do and turned quickly drifted to the right and cracked the ball home despite the valiant efforts of the Hibs keeper.
Swifts will have been delighted to lift the pressure with the all-important first goal and the target for the second half was to stretch the opponents and look to kill the game off with a second goal.
Things didn't go according to plan as Hibs started the stronger and opened up the Swifts defence with a ball over Leiper's head. Fortunately for Swifts the effort was too high.
The game was to turn on 65mins with Swifts getting the killer second. McIntyre latched onto a through ball and showing great pace reached the ball before the keeper to stab the ball home. It was a fitting reward for the striker who had showed up well throughout.
With Hibs now understandably tiring, Swifts took a grip of the game with Thatcher dominating proceedings centrally. Smith was now on a causing problems on the right and Mearns was giving the Hibs defence fresh problems. As the game entered the closing stages Smith added a third and it was goal fit to win any final. Todd collected and played a perfectly weighted ball across to the right. Smith showed great pace and having got onto the edge of the box, showed great composure to steady herself and send a great strike across the keeper.
Todd herself then almost added another but was thwarted by a great save by the keeper.
The game ended at 3-0 and Swifts were left to celebrate their first ever Senior honours. Hibs' depleted side battled incredibly in the heat and deserve immense credit for their efforts. Swifts did a very professional job and securing the Cup was fitting reward for not only their efforts today but in some equally tough previous rounds. The squad has worked incredibly hard despite injuries, and have always tried to play in the right manner. Congratulations to all of the girls. Last words were reserved for Coach McCrindle who is seeing his own excellent efforts rewarded on the park "it was expected that the first half was going to be nervous affair but when it looked like we were going in at half-time 0-0, we have players who can produce pieces of magic and turn games in our favour. 2nd half after a wee chat at half-time, we settled and looked far better with the ball playing to people's strengths in the team. I'm absolutely delighted for them. They carried out the game plan with and without the ball superbly and all the credit goes to the players".