Stalemate at Colts and Swifts fail to find a Winner

Swifts travelled to Broadwood to meet a Colts team looking to close the gap between the sides as the top nine teams in this tight 1st Division look to mount their promotion challenges. In a game that never really opened up, neither team did enough in the last third to claim the three points, with the match ending in a stalemate.
The Colts started the brighter and were enjoying most of the possession. However the Swifts defence were coping with Mearns, who picked up an early knock, and McDonald both strong. Swifts thought they had taken an early lead when a McGinley corner was forced home by Thatcher but the referee decided a hand had been used. Swifts were now starting to threaten and McGinley burst through only to be beaten to the ball by Stevenson, and then McIntyre found herself through on the edge of the box and chose to take an extra touch when a strike seemed a better option for a striker who has been banging in the goals of late.
Just as Swifts looked to turn this pressure into goals the Colts came back strongly and in extra time of the half missed the best opportunity of the match when the striker, through on goal on the angle, rushed the finish when a ball across the box might have been a better option.
Swifts would be happy with 0-0 HT as they had seen stand-in keeper Nicholson perform confidently and they would now look to play with more confidence, although wary of their opponents knack of enjoying strong 2nd periods with a strong and talented squad of players.
The 2nd half stared in a similar vein with the Colts superior numbers in midfield giving them possession advantage but the Swifts now showing more threat than the first half. Mearns despite her injury was playing on and saw her 25yard strike well saved by Stevenson, and then Todd who was now a real threat on the left, burst through on goal and saw her shot just slip wide and then saw herself crowded out when ready to get a shot off.
Just as it looked as if the Swifts were about to secure the win, the Colts came storming back with Young now becoming more influential and her contest with McLeod an entertaining one. Leiper was also proving up to the task of repelling the threat on the right. It was now Swifts who were having to defend and with Colts utilising their substitutes well and Swifts depleted numbers tiring, the pressure was now on Swifts. Shaw was now on for the injured MacLean and Mearns severely hampered by her injury. The play was now towards the away goal but Swifts were well served by Nicholson whose handling and positioning were perfect.
With the game ending 0-0 Colts will have been disappointed in losing the opportunity to close the 9 point gap between the sides, and the Swifts will have been delighted to secure a point at a very difficult venue against a very dangerous opponent, with a team deprived of many of its regulars.
Manager Steve Grossi commented "our games against the Colts are always close affairs and this was no different. It could have gone either way and although I felt we could have played with more composure on the ball, given the number and quality of players we were missing today I'm happy with the point against a very good Colts side. The commitment from the girls was outstanding as was their organisation. I was particularly pleased with Jodie Nicholson who played as stand-in goalkeeper and looked as if she'd played there all her life !. With the full squad back this week in addition to the return of Emma MacLean from injury and recent addition Stacey MacFadyen I'm hoping to see the improved numbers help the players continue to improve in the coming weeks"