Swifts unfortunate to lose out

Swifts entertained Buchan in Perth for the first time ever. A tight game where the advantage swung both ways, was decided by a late Buchan winner.

Swifts had the upper hand early with pressure that didn't trouble the keeper. It was the visitors who grabbed an early lead when a contested free kick was played into the box, and while the home defence did not deal with the bouncing ball, it was expertly hooked into the roof of the net.

This knocked the Swifts and McIlravey made two excellent saves to keep her team in the game and then was thankful when a snapshot bounced off the post and into her arms. The Swifts hadn't settled but were fighting hard to get back into the game. McIntyre was through but her weak effort was straight at the keeper and then a McGinley strike was deflected for a corner. A flurry of corners pressurised the Buchan defence but Swifts lack of ruthlessness let them off the hook.

At half time Buchan will have been delighted with the lead with their experience the telling factor in a game they were dictating until the later stages.

The second half however was an entirely different affair with Swifts much improved. Although their play did not create enough clear cut chances the pressure was now on Buchan. The hour mark saw the equaliser as Martin rose perfectly to beat the keeper to a Robertson corner.

Swifts now had the upper hand and were pressing for the winner, and it was the visitors turn to dig deep. To their credit they did just that and grabbed the winner when a ball over the top allowed the striker in behind Martin and she finished calmly.
Swifts threw everything at the Buchan defence for the last 10minutes and were denied with a last gasp diving headed clearance at the death denying Martin her second goal of the game.

Swifts were unfortunate not to take something from the game, and will feel aggrieved at this. Buchan held firm when under pressure in the second half and showed real determination to grab the winner and close the game out.