Six of the best by super Swifts

Nov 4 2008 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

JEANFIELD Swifts were the only Perthshire team to win their Scottish Cup second round tie on Saturday and they certainly did it in style as they thrashed their opponents Cumbernauld to the tune of 6-0.

Swifts fielded a new signing – David Thornton a native of Australia and has joined Swifts from East Stirling. David is a striker and he capped his debut with a well taken goal.

Swifts scorned a number of chances before they broke the deadlock in 26 minutes. It was their new man who laid on a pass to Tony Holt that left him in a one to one situation with the goalkeeper who came off his goal line to try and thwart Tony but it was to no avail as he cooly slipped the ball past him into the back of the net. Swifts increased their lead to 2-0 in 35 minutes with a close range header from John Anderson.

Swifts then had a mini goal rush in the early minutes of the second half when John Anderson with his second headed goal of the game made it 3-0 in 50 minutes. Two minutes later David Thornton got into the scoring act. A strong shot from Craig Milne was only parried by the keeper and before he could recover the striker had pounced and the ball was in the back of the net.

Cumbernauld had another very good chance in 59 minutes when Brian McCardie was left with only keeper Andy Mackie to beat from 10 yards but he shot straight at Andy.

Swifts were awarded two penalties in the space of a few minutes the first of which was in the 70th minute when Thornton was downed in the box by a hefty challenge. The defender who committed the offence got a red card and was sent packing. Tony Holt’s spot kick was well saved.

Six minutes later in another Swifts raid Craig Milne was brought down again. This offence was in the penalty box. John Anderson took the spot kick this time and slammed it past the keeper and Swifts were 5-0 ahead.

To add to Cumbernauld’s woes James Brown who had conceded the penalty picked up a second yellow card for his troubles and he was also sent to the pavilion.

Swifts completed the scoring in 86 minutes when a free kick from Donald McDonald into the penalty box saw John Anderson connect with a diving header which beat the keeper to bring his personal tally to four goals and number six for his team.

The Kinnoull/Shotts Bon Accord encounter at Tulloch Park was an excellent cup tie and ended all square. Kinnoull got off to a great start when they took the lead after only 11 minutes.

They had won a corner which when taken caused a scramble in the Shotts penalty box and full back Neil Gardiner, who was up with his attack, latched on to the loose ball and whacked it past the keeper from just outside the six yard box.

Kinnoull were certainly having the better of the exchanges and in 21 minutes they increased their lead to 2-0. A great move between Gary Sweeney and Jon Kelly saw Kelly left in a one-to-one situation with the keeper who came off his line to try and block the striker but Jon, with the deftest of chips, beat him and it looked to be a certain goal until a defender arrived from nowhere to knock the ball away but it didn’t get very far and Chris Anton managed to knock it over the goal line.

In the final minutes of the half Shotts won a free kick which was flighted into the Kinnoull goalmouth and wasn’t cleared and it found Darren Ferguson at the back post and the full back beat Duncan Bruce with a strong header to make it 2-1.

Shotts were reduced to 10 men in the opening minutes of the second half when their centre half Jamie Whyte was red carded.

Kinnoull restored their two goal lead with a great goal from Steve McAllister in 54 minutes from all of 20 yards. Kinnoull were 3-1 ahead.

Shotts to their credit didn’t let the fact that they were down to 10 men stop them chasing goals. In 72 minutes they won a free kick which was hit into the Kinnoul penalty box and John Boyack connected with it. His shot took a deflection off a Kinnoull player and landed it in the back of the net to make it 3-2.

Kevin Barr equalised for Shotts in 84 minutes to earn his side a replay at Hannah Park.

Coupar Angus were away to North Region Super League side Ellon United and Coupar’s prospects looked none too bright as their hosts had shot into a two goal lead with goals from Mike Fletcher in the first minute and Cammy Bruce in 15 minutes.

Coupar however shrugged off those set backs and set about attacking the Ellon goal. Duncan Cocker was brought down in the penalty box and Jim Henry slotted home the spot kick. Coupar got the equaliser with a wonder goal from Derek Martin. Just a minute from the interval Derek was almost 30 yards from the Ellon goal and at what looked to be an impossible angle but his shot landed in the back of the net.

Five minutes into the second half Ellon were awarded a rather soft penalty and Derek Craigie slotted homef to put Ellon 3-2 ahead.

Ellon were reduced to 10 men in 65 minutes when one of heir players picked up a second yellow card. Coupar threw everything into getting the equaliser and in 82 minutes they were successful with Jim Henry scoring to make it 3-3 and earn Coupar a replay at Foxhall Park on Saturday.

Blairgowrie were hit by a number of call offs before their game against Thorniewood and their reshuffled team found themselves trailing by 3-0 at he interval.

The second half was however a different story. Blair threw caution to the wind and piled everything into getting back into the game and they were successful as by midway through the second half they had pegged their opponents lead back to 3-2 with goals from Mark Brash and Jamie Duncan.

Blair did everything but get that elusive equaliser and they were still piling on the pressure in the final minute when their opponents broke up the park and went on to score to make it 4-2 and clinch the tie.

Bankfoot were away to Kilsyth Rangers and while they turned in a stuffy performance they couldn’t match the Rangers’ power and they went down by 4-1. A minute into the second half and lan Stewart did the business when he scored with a pass he picked up from Alan Brown to make it 2-1 and had it not been for that late tackle on John Mitchell the game could have been all square.

The Rangers were quick to respond to this set back and it took them only four minutes to restore their two goal lead. Centre half Morrison scored and then Tony Martin wrapped things up when he made it 4-1 for the Rangers on the hour mark.

Luncarty had a number of players missing from their squad for their away tie against Haddington. The Lothian side are one of the South League’s leading lights and they went on to trounce the Bleachers to the tune of 7-0.

Alan Williams the Luncarty player/manager, who played in this game, has informed the club that he has decided to relinquish this post with immediate effect. Luncarty chairman Ian Bannerman said there would be a statement later this week.

Scone Thistle were at home to Lochore Welfare in a Central League game. Unfortunately for the Thistle they lost in what was a high scoring encounter by the odd goal in seven.

John Ferguson got the first of these goals in 23 minutes to give the Fifers the lead. Thistle were back on level terms five minutes later with a really cracking goal from Keith Dewar. The interval was only a minute away when Dave Brawley restored the Fifers’ lead. John Ferguson with his second goal of the game increased the Fifers lead to 3-1 in 65 minutes. Thistle retaliated to this further set back and within a matter of minutes Scott McManus, who had come on as a sub, reduced the leeway to 3-2.

John Ferguson completed his hat trick in 71 minutes with goal number four for his side. Alan Cameron failed to convert a penalty for Thistle in 83 minutes but a minute later he atoned for his miss with a well taken goal from a narrow angle to make it 4-3.

Thistle, despite constant pressure in the remaining minutes, couldn’t get the equaliser they deserved.