Mearns at the Double to take Swifts through in Cup Tie

Swifts travelled to Bankton Mains to start the 2015 season in the League Cup. It was to prove a very close cup-tie with the Swifts ultimately triumphant with two late goals.

The first half was even with both teams enjoying spells of pressure. It was the hosts who started stronger with plenty of possession but a limited number of chances. As the half progressed Swifts then gained a foothold in the game but found the last pass rushed and opportunities lost, as nerves seemed to be affecting the team. Just before the break however, last season’s top scorer McGinley settled the nerves when she collected the ball and after shrugging off a couple of challenges, despatched a vicious strike which went in off the underside of the crossbar.

It had been a scrappy half and the Swifts looked to start the second half better. They certainly did and within the first 10minutes with Thatcher and Robertson getting a hold of their area had created a handful of chances with some excellent football , but again found themselves hurrying the opportunities. These misses came back to haunt the Swifts as Murieston equalised with their striker getting in behind MacLean and scoring across McIllravey.

With fresh legs in the shape of MacLean, Mearns and Grossi on, Swifts responded immediately when Robertson’s flighted cross was flicked on by Mearns and deflected home by a home defender. The lead didn’t last long when the home side won a corner and the cross was deflected into her own net by Martin.

The game had now opened up and could have gone either way. Swifts were enjoying most of the pressure with MacLean now dictating matters centrally with some excellent footwork and passing, but the hosts remained very dangerous on the break.

As the game entered the last 10 minutes the Swifts edged ahead when Grossi took up a great position on the right and her cross was met by Mearns who took an excellent first touch and struck a great shot home across the keeper. The hosts looked to take the tie to extra-time but it was the Swifts who finished the tie off when Mearns fed Todd who took advantage of hesitancy between the keeper and her defence to side foot home from an acute angle.

McGinley then almost made it 5 but was thwarted by the keeper.

The game ended and an entertaining tie finished with Swifts deserving of their win but with the hosts taking a lot of credit from the game. Swifts will be delighted with a win in the first game and will have benefited from the 90minutes following two pre-season cancellations.

Next up will be Cumbernauld whom the Swifts failed to beat in four attempts last year.