After completing a gruelling pre-season, Jeanfield were handed a tough first competitive test away to Kettins AFC. The challenge was made even steeper by the absence of the Swifts' number one goalkeeper.

Jeanfield had a chance to take the lead early door when a Rian Shillan free kick found the head of Jack Jardine but his header flew over the bar.

Kettins drew first blood in the 13th minute. A mis-kicked Swifts goal kick landed at the feet of the Kettins striker. Although he was forced wide, he managed to whip in a cross that sent the Jeanfield defence scrambling. The ball fell to a Kettins player just two yards out; the keeper pulled off a brilliant initial save, but the rebound was unfortunately tapped in.

Jeanfield pushed hard for the remainder of the half. Despite enjoying plenty of possession and delivering some brilliant corners, they just couldn't find the back of the net.

The half-time message was clear: stick together and get more creative in the final third.

That message paid off in the 55th minute when the equaliser finally arrived. Ben Calderwood turned sharply five yards outside the box and slipped a perfectly timed pass into the path of Jack Jardine. With a quick toe-poke, the striker beat the keeper, much to the delight of the Swifts' sideline.

Sensing blood and with Kettins beginning to look tired, Jeanfield took the lead just five minutes later. Rian Shillan floated a high ball towards Jardine. Despite being marked by a big centre-half, Jardine practically ragdolled him out of the way. As the ball bounced into the box, the striker coolly lobbed the onrushing keeper for his second of the match.

The Swifts kept the pressure on and added a third in the 65th minute. Robbie Green made a powerful, crunching tackle on the halfway line to halt a Kettins attack. He drove forward ten yards before executing a sublime no-look reverse pass that split the Kettins defence wide open. Spotting the keeper off his line, Jardine hit it first time, curling a beautiful strike over the keeper's head to seal an outstanding hat-trick. It's an early Goal of the Season contender!

Kettins responded immediately straight from the restart. Their attacker jinked past the Swifts' midfield and defence before pulling one back—a frustrating goal that really should have been dealt with.

Kettins felt they had a lifeline, but the Swifts had other ideas. In the 72nd minute, a corner from Rian Shillan—living up to his "Jeany Cafu" nickname after delivering numerous brilliant crosses—finally paid off as it found Benn Blyth, who met it with a trademark power header into the back of the net.

Jeanfield killed the game off in the 77th minute with a fantastic combination from two new recruits. Mark McNiven burst down the left side of the box, drove to the touchline, and delivered a pinpoint cross to Aidan Strong, who smashed home a close-range volley for a debut goal.

Both teams continued to push in the closing stages, but there were no further goals, sealing a dominant display from the visitors.

Fulltime
Kettins AFC 2
Jeanfield Swifts AFC 5

Jack Jardine ⚽⚽⚽
Benn Blyth ⚽
Aidan Strong ⚽

Man of the Match was Robbie Green with a great performance in the middle of the park. He covered every blade of grass, breaking up the play brilliantly, and capping it off with a fantastic assist to ensure the Swifts went home with all three points.

#coyjs