Swifts swallow late Spartans salvo in pre-season friendly win

Posted on Sunday, July 24th, 2016

Three quality second half strikes saw Dougie Samuel’s Spartans see off Jeanfield Swifts 3-1 in the latest pre-season friendly at Ainslie Park on Saturday.

In a game boosted by a swell in crowd numbers courtesy of a number of Blyth Spartans fans already booked for a trip to the capital to watch the previously advertised opponents, Spartans entertained last season’s East Super League champions in their penultimate game prior to the campaign opener next Friday night at Stirling.

The first half saw lots of possession circle around the Swifts danger zone and there was no shortage of incident to keep the vocal travelling footy fans entertained.  There were loud appeals for a home penalty after a shot appeared to be deflected wide by the arm of a Jeanfield man, which was followed by the acrobatics of Jamie Dishington who saw his overhead kick flash wide of the goal.

At the other end, Daniel Kelly came close to opening proceedings when his audacious lob left Blair Carswell looking on in hope as it grazed off the top of the bar before landed behind the net.

HT: Spartans 0-0 Jeanfield Swifts

Despite the opening forty-five offering no signs of the net bulging, it took just four minutes after the restart for the first goal.

Unfortunately for the home support, it was Kelly who atoned for his earlier miss to put the Perth side in front.

That lead lasted slightly less than ten minutes when Jack Beesley won the ball in midfield before making ground to cross for Scott Maxwell who calmly slotted the equaliser past the keeper.

A four-minute double whammy sunk the Swifts in what was a competitive match having only been arranged at the 11th hour.

First up saw Alan Brown upended circa 25 yards out.  Jack Beesley stepped up and the master of the dead-ball lifted his free-kick over the wall and the fingertips of the goalies gloves.

A goal of equal measure then put further light between the sides as David Greenhill picked the ball up from distance before unleashing a thunderous unstoppable strike that flew into the comfort of the newly hung nets.

There was just enough time to witness what would have been the goal of the game had the thickness of the post been less cylindrical. Mikey Herd went on a run, cutting back inside from the flank before getting his foot around what looked like a netbound attempt. Agonisingly, the effort could only find the face of the upright before bouncing to safety.

FT: Spartans 3-1 Jeanfield Swifts