Swifts Positive Despite Loss

A much changed Swifts travelled to meet a Glasgow Girls side who still had an outside chance of the title. As with all of the games this season it was a well-contested, tight and hugely entertaining affair with the home side securing the points with a late winner.
Swifts started brightly and settled into their passing game early with MacLean moving the ball well and Grossi providing a dangerous supply from deep. Todd was continuing her excellent recent form with Foote providing a similar threat on the other side.
For all their possession Swifts found the creation of chances elusive and were made to pay for this when the hosts hit them with two goals in the space of a minute. For once it wasn't Evans (so often a thorn in the side of Swifts) who was the scorer. McGuire took a high ball down well and her dummy sold at least two defenders leaving her through against Cochran and she finished well. This was harsh on Swifts but worse was to follow when the dangerous McManus was first to react to a high ball and she prodded home to double the lead.

The Swifts were now facing an uphill task but to their credit they responded strongly. Tweedie was providing strength at the back and it was her central defensive partner McDonald who strode forward and unleashed a great strike from 25 yards that beat young Rae who was making her debut at the age of only 14. It was a strong response from Swifts but the half ended with Glasgow ahead.

HT Glasgow Girls 2 Jeanfield Swifts 1

The second half was an entertaining affair with play flowing well but neither side finding chances easy to come by. However as the half progressed Swifts were looking more likely with Scobbie going close with a great half volley and Reilly linking well with McGinley. McGinley was then denied by a brilliant block by the defender. It was McGinley however who equalised when she was upended in the box after a great run, and despatched the penalty confidently. Shortly after the same player seemed to be impeded in the box just as she tried to get her shot away and then Scobbie was flattened, leaving Swifts frustrated at the lack of decisions.
To their credit both teams were going for the winner and it was Glasgow who secured it when a Curtis cross from the right eluded Cochran. Cochran herself pulled off a brilliant block only minutes later.

FT Glasgow Girls 3 Jeanfield Swifts 2

Swifts found themselves losing out by the odd goal for the second time away against a strong Glasgow side. The hosts will have been pleased to end with a win to soften the disappointment of losing out on the title in a very close race with Hearts and Hamilton that has positively showcased SWPL2. Swifts can take encouragement from a brave display from a team with many players playing out of position and carrying injuries which emphasised the strong spirit in the squad.

McCrindle saw enough to please him "It's the 2nd time we have come here and lost 3-2 and like a lot of our games this year the result doesn't match the performance. I was really impressed with how well we played. I thought we were better on the ball and tried to dictate without and it worked to a certain extent , but when we are on top that's when we need to punish teams. However we are definitely heading in the right direction. We scored a great goal from Jade and a penalty from Danni. Without seeming like sour grapes we really should have had two more penalties but maybe the ref thought he couldn't give them as he had already given us one. I can't fault the girls. They have been incredible for me this season and we will come back next season stronger and ready to go again.