Swifts emerge with credit as Dons progress

Swifts headed north to play their League Cup 1st Round tie against an experienced and strong Aberdeen side. While the home side progressed as expected the young Swifts side emerged with great credit for their battling display.
Swifts were first to threaten when an excellent Nicholson diagonal almost set the dangerous Todd through. This seemed to spark the Dons in to action and the play then headed towards the visitors goal with McIlravey pulling of an outstanding save to her right. The home side exerted constant pressure and were looking to use the full width of the park, but the Swifts held firm with Flynn-Scott excelling at left-back and the untried centre pairing of Thatcher and Leiper combining cleverly and bravely to combat the constant movement of the Aberdeen strikers.
Although under almost constant pressure the Swifts were starting to settle with Scobbie, Maclean and Grossi starting to get on the ball after a huge early defensive effort. Fox was proving a skillful and willing outlet for the Swifts and despite an early injury showed commendable bravery in continuing.
As the first half drew to a close the Swifts were entertaining thoughts of a clean sheet but ultimately the pressure of the home side paid off with Smith slotting home a left-footed strike after drifting in from the right. This goal buoyed the Dons and Swifts paid the penalty for letting their standards slip with two further goals from McGregor and Smith before the break with tiredness perhaps a factor.

HT Aberdeen 3 Jeanfield Swifts 0

The home side started the second half in determined fashion and added a fourth within a minute through Campbell. The Swifts at this point could have folded but to their credit they responded well and showed great organisation and attitude in meeting everything that a rampant home side threw at them, and McFadyen was now showing great skill and determination in the forward areas.
Aberdeen continued to press and show their quality and were playing some excellent football which stretched the Swifts. However they held their nerve until McGregor got the 5th a few minutes before the final whistle.

FT Aberdeen 5 Jeanfield Swifts 0

Although well beaten by the better side Swifts took great credit from a battling and excellently-organised performance against top quality SWPL1 opposition. They will take great confidence from an excellent game plan from McCrindle that was carried out bravely by all his players. The Head Coach was understandably proud of his team "I thought for the first 35mins we had contained them well and our game plan was working. But 10mins before half-time we made 3 mistakes and were punished - that's the difference when playing a top side as those small errors can be crucial. I wasn't over-critical of the girls because of the work that they put into that first half. 2nd half the game was similar in terms of Aberdeen having possession but we knew what we would be up against, they are a very good side, but I can't praise the girls enough ..everything that was asked of them they carried out. I'm really proud of them and they should be pleased with what they have done against a top side"