Swifts Hold Out In The Heat

Swifts travelled to Meggatland to meet a young Hibs side who have impressed in their first year in Division 1. The Swifts were to achieve a second successive win in the heat in a game that swung as it progressed and was not as fluent as previous matches between the two sides.

Swifts started the brighter and took the lead when McGinley collected the ball 30yards out and embarked on a terrific run, cutting across the Hibs left back and despatching a great strike across the home keeper.

Buoyed by this goal the visitors continued to look the more likely and were creating good situations in the last third but found their decision-making lacking with the final ball. This did not prevent them doubling their lead when McGinley dispossessed the home team 30yards out and somewhat strangely went on an identical run down the right, cut inside and scored again with an excellent strike across the keeper.

The Swifts were playing well and always looked a threat. However rather than close the game out they allowed the home side something to encourage them by not clearing their lines. When the ball fell to Lynch she wasn’t closed down and sent a 25 yard strike over the head of the helpless Gray.

The Swifts probably deserved their lead but had been subdued in the heat and were aware of the challenges the conditions were going to present to a squad short of numbers.

These concerns seemed to be irrelevant as Swifts started the second half in excellent fashion. Firstly Shaw collected the ball from Robertson and sent an inch-perfect pass in behind to Mearns who steadied herself and struck a well-placed shot home from the edge of the box. Minutes later it was Mearns again as she chased a long ball from Nicholson and when the ball dropped 12yards out she sent a sweetly struck left foot shot past the stunned home keeper. It was great effort from the striker who had defied all odds along with Martin, to play despite suffering from a sickness bug.

Soon after it was almost five as McGinley found McIntyre who had made a clever run. Last week’s hattrick hero took a great first touch but saw her strong shot too straight and dealt with well by the home keeper.

With half an hour remaining Swifts were looking for a comfortable end to the game. However the home side had other ideas and came storming back into the game. With fresh legs on they pressed aggressively and were rewarded when this pressure forced Gray into misplacing a clearance and Rutherford took full advantage. The home side had their tails up and as the game entered the last quarter they scored again when Robertson took advantage of hesitation between McDonald and McLeod and finished coolly.

With 15 minutes remaining the home side had completely turned the game around and were sensing that the 3 points were an increasingly likely option. Swifts were now struggling and with Smith off due to injury and a couple carrying knocks, there were tired legs everywhere, and Jason was trying to keep his Hibs scarf hidden.

However to their credit the visitors dug into their energy reserves and maintained their organisation. Nicholson kept the threat from the wings at bay, Martin organised the defence and both Shaw and Robertson protected the defence superbly. The final drama saw Gray pull off an excellent stop to bag the points for a relieved Swifts side.

Perhaps the neutral observer may have enjoyed this match as it certainly had goals aplenty and swung from one end to the other. However both management teams admitted that their teams can play more fluently and the scrappy nature of the match was a surprise.

Swifts however will be delighted with their second win in as many weeks and a victory that more or less ensures their survival in their first season at this level. With a bit of pressure now off, they can now perhaps target chasing some of the teams above them in a congested mid-table.