Jeanfield made the trip to Aberfeldy to face Breadalbane AFC in the first round of the Perthshire Cup, knowing victory would secure a place in the quarter-finals. A visit to Breadalbane is never straightforward, and the task was made tougher with a number of key players missing.

With plenty at stake, both sides started brightly, though clear-cut chances were limited as possession swung from end to end. The breakthrough came on 16 minutes when K. Mitchel whipped a free-kick to the back post and K. Sime rose like a salmon to head the ball back across goal, off the post and into the net. A superb goal, made even sweeter on his return after nine months out injured.

Jeanfield looked to build on their lead while Breadalbane pushed for an equaliser. The Swifts’ back line stood firm, restricting the home side to deep crosses, long-range efforts and corners, none of which troubled J. Welch in goal. At the other end, Jeanfield created openings and asked questions of the Breadalbane defence, but the final ball just wouldn’t quite fall.

The visitors went into the break holding the advantage and marginally the happier of the two sides.

Jeanfield came out flying in the second half and doubled their lead just three minutes in. A deflected J. Jardine effort dropped inside the box where K. Brown showed great composure amid a crowd of defenders, finding space at a tight angle on the touchline his shot nutmegged one of the defenders and beat the keeper at the back post.

Both teams continued to attack in a similar pattern to the first half. Breadalbane’s pressure again resulted mainly in corners, which were dealt with comfortably, while Jeanfield’s chances narrowly missed the target. As the minutes ticked by, fatigue began to show on both sides after a high-tempo contest. With two goals separating the teams Jeanfield started to believe the tie was theirs. On the 85th minute after some excellent Jeanfield football saw the ball worked wide to the “Jeany Cafu” R. Shillan, whose pinpoint cross was met by R. Gillies, who acrobatically volleyed home with a delightful bicycle kick, sparking scenes of joy on the sidelines.

Fulltime
Breadalbane AFC 0
Jeanfield Swifts AFC 3

K.Sime ⚽
K.Brown ⚽
R.Gillies ⚽

All 16 players were outstanding from first whistle to last in a tremendous team performance. Man of the Match could easily have gone to anyone, but Kris Sime just edged it on his return from injury — scoring the opener and helping keep Breadalbane’s strike force quiet throughout.

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