Jeanfield welcomed Burrelton to the Riverside Stadium for the semi-final of the Presidents Cup, with a place in Thursday’s final against St. Johns up for grabs. Representatives from the Perthshire Association were also in attendance to present the league trophy after the match.

Jeanfield came flying out of the blocks and took the lead just five minutes in. A neat one-two between A. Smith and K. Mitchell saw Smith burst through on goal, compose himself, and fire home emphatically. Jeanfield maintained control and doubled their advantage in the 28th minute when a K. Mitchell free kick from near the corner deflected into the net. Question mark if it was an own goal, but Mitchell deserved credit for the delivery.

Burrelton pulled one back in the 37th minute from a corner, narrowing the gap before the break.

Jeanfield restored their two-goal cushion early in the second half. In the 50th minute, Mitchell delivered a deep free kick that found J. Howie two yards out, and he made no mistake.

At 3–1, Jeanfield looked comfortable, but Burrelton mounted a quick comeback. A free header from a set piece in the 55th minute made it 3–2, and just three minutes later, Burrelton equalised following a poor Jeanfield free kick that sparked a counter-attack, culminating in a good finish into the corner.

Stunned, Jeanfield found themselves on the back foot, and Burrelton capitalised, taking the lead in the 79th minute. With just over 10 minutes remaining, Jeanfield needed a goal to keep their season alive. Burrelton began to run down the clock, but in the 90th minute, a ball over the top set A. Abboud through on goal—only to be brought down. The Burrelton defender was shown a red card.

Three minutes of added time were signalled, and Jeanfield threw everything forward. In the 92nd minute, a clearance fell to Jeanfield keeper J. Welch near the halfway line. He delivered a pinpoint ball into the box, and Abboud bravely headed past the advancing keeper to level the game at 4–4. The bench erupted as Jeanfield's fighting spirit shone through.

At the final whistle, as players changed ends, a Burrelton player approached the referee complaining that the game continued until Jeanfield scored. He was shown a red card—Burrelton were down to 9 men for extra time.

FullTime
Jeanfield Swifts AFC 4
Burrelton AFC 4

With the numerical advantage, Jeanfield took full control in extra time.

Just two minutes in, A. Abboud was fouled in midfield, but the ball ran to J. Jardine who curled a superb finish into the net. Minutes later, Jardine linked up brilliantly with K. Mitchell, who backheeled the ball into his path, allowing Jardine to slot home his second. Another two minutes later, Jardine flicked the ball into the path of Mitchell, who beat the keeper with ease. In the 99th minute, a ball into B. Calderwood was squared unselfishly to Mitchell, who tapped into an empty net.

In the second half of extra time, Jeanfield kept piling on the goals. On 108 minutes, Abboud won a free kick from 32 yards. Mitchell stepped up and blasted it into the top corner with a sensational strike.

Three minutes later, A. Smith won the ball and fed Calderwood, who smashed home. Then in the 117th minute, a low cross found Abboud six yards out, and with a clever backheel, he set up Jardine to complete his hat-trick.

Final Score (aet)
Jeanfield Swifts AFC 11
Burrelton AFC 4

K. Mitchell ⚽⚽⚽⚽
J. Jardine ⚽⚽⚽
B. Calderwood ⚽
A. Smith ⚽
A. Abboud ⚽
J. Howie ⚽

Man of the Match was Kyle Mitchell who scored 4 goals and set up another 4 goals. A sensational performance.

Despite Burrelton’s accusations of unsportsmanlike behaviour, they should reflect on their own conduct—two red cards and deliberate timewasting left them with little to stand on.

Jeanfield now march into the final.

#coyjs