Positive Start for Swifts

Jeanfield Swifts started their league campaign with an excellent 3-0 victory over Motherwell.

In a fiercely-contested match the Swifts battled brilliantly and ultimately ended up convincing winners.

A great start saw McGinley pounce onto a McIntyre pass and pass the ball into the net on 5mins. Motherwell pushed hard for the equaliser and were thwarted by a goal-line clearance from Fleming following a corner. However despite the pressure Morris and Henderson were giving nothing away at the back and Flynn-Scott and Foote providing excellent cover from the full-back areas. Swifts were proving very dangerous on the break with the McIntyre and McGinley always a threat and Tweedie prominent on the right. McGinley almost doubled the lead with a great strike that was palmed away by the home keeper and then a combination of Foote and Cochran denied Well at the back post..

HT Motherwell 0 Jeanfield Swifts 1
Swifts will have been pleased with the half-time lead. Although they had surrendered the majority of possession they were defending well and looking likely to add more goals. With the game very much still in the balance they needed a positive response in the second half with Motherwell likely to come storming back.

Swifts responded perfectly and within 10mins of the restart has put the game beyond the hosts with a two more goals. On 52mins a determined Dunn broke up play, fed McIntyre who again slipped in McGinley and last year's top scorer provided a composed finish. Minutes later McIntyre collected a pass on the edge, turned and struck a great shot over the keeper.

Swifts were now dominant with captain McDonald and Dunn dominating the central area. When Motherwell did break clear Cochran proved reliable when she stood up well and denied Liddell with a great save.

Swifts continued to push for more goals and young Fleming was creating problems on the left with good positional play and delivery.

The home side were reduced to 10 when Burns was dismissed and substitute Cowie came close to scoring a 4th.

FT Motherwell 0 Jeanfield Swifts 3
Swifts deserved the points for proving resilient and organised when under pressure, and creative and clinical when on the ball. It was a great team effort with last years squad continuing their good form in SWPL and excellent league debuts from Henderson, Morris and Dunn who was perhaps top player.

Coach McCrindle was understandably pleased "It was good to finally get back to competitive football. The girls were ready today to do whatever it took to get the 3 points. We have had a tough pre-season but you don't win any point in pre-season..today was what it's all about - 3 points. Every player played their part in a fantastic win. Three goals away from home at a tough place and a clean sheet. It's a good start to the new season"