Smith strike sparks Fourth Swifts Win

Swifts hosted a Murieston side who had seen their recent hard work lift them above the relegation zone and looking for a win to assist their survival hopes. It was the Swifts however who were to come out comfortable winners helped greatly by a strong start to the match.

Determined to keep up their recent winning streak Swifts started on the front foot and were rewarded with an early goal when McGinley found Smith in the channel and she slipped the ball past the advancing keeper for her first of the season. Encouraged by this start the home side continued to press and doubled the lead with an excellently worked goal. Robertson, Shaw and McGinley combined with some neat passing and released the overlapping Nicholson. When her cross was partially blocked Foote was on hand to fire home. It was one-way traffic now and Foote came close again when the keeper blocked her shot after another great move, and then McGinley looked set to make it three when she set off on a great run. However after leaving the defence in her wake the away centre half made a great block. Mearns then saw a shot tipped over the bar and Foote a shot cleared off the line.

Swifts continued the onslaught and a serious of corners saw them come close. The first half however ended 2-0 and Swifts will have been delighted with the lead and the chances created with some positive football.

The second half started well with Swifts on the scoresheet with Mearns squeezing home from close range after a Robertson corner.

With most of the half remaining Swifts were looking strong. However the quality of game fell and with some over-zealous challenges the game became scrappy and the Swifts struggled to find their passes. One positive in the remaining time was the opportunity to give Katie MacDonald her senior debut.

Despite the poor second half the Swifts will be delighted with their second successive clean sheet and 3-0 win, with the three points improving their chances of achieving a top six finish.