Swifts boss Gunnion makes positive point

Battling players praised after 4-4 draw with Star

Jeanfield Swifts manager Ross Gunnion believes any point gained in the Super League is an impressive feat.

The Riverside boss holds the division in high regard and knows how crucial Saturday’s high-scoring 4-4 draw with Newtongrange Star could be.

Gunnion himself netted a late equaliser in a hectic game of football. Robbie Holden had earlier scored twice for Swifts with Daniel Kelly also on the scoresheet.

It was a result which moves the Perth side up to 12th in the current standings, four places off the bottom of the table.

“It was a frantic game to be honest on a very tricky hard surface,” Gunnion told the Perthshire Advertiser.

“Credit to Newtongrange, they knew they had to win the game and came out with a very direct attacking formation which caused problems. I think we could have defended much better as a team but I can’t be too critical as there were some good goals scored.

“We knew avoiding defeat would make it very difficult for Newtongrange to catch us. But a win was our target, so in that sense I’m disappointed.

“But any point gained in this league is a good one so we’ll take it and look towards the next game now.

“All the other teams around us failed to capitalise so it’s very much as you were.

“I said last week that we are showing a real grit and determination not to get beaten and that was evident again on Saturday.

“The players are fighting for every inch and that’s pleasing to see.”

Meanwhile, Kinnoull recorded a Perthshire derby win against Coupar Angus at the weekend.

Noull goals came from Rhys Davies (2), Sean Burton and a trialist while Chris Liversedge netted for Logan McConachie’s Coupar.

McConachie believes his squad were unfortunate to fall to a 4-1 defeat.

“I thought we were really unfortunate to lose by the scoreline that we did,” he said. “Our main evaluation after the game was that there wasn’t too much of a difference between the sides but Kinnoull performed the basics better.

“After the hour mark I was certain we were going to get something from the game as the players adapted to a formation well.

“Two goals that we’ve lost have been through naivety, by that it was merely players not tracking runners.

“The late goals have made it look like a thumping but the reality is that we stuck more players up top to salvage a point and they have counter attacked really effectively.”

McConachie had his team back in training yesterday and he said: “We’re in training Monday to regroup and get a few players on the physio table after the weekend’s knocks.

“We’ll be ready to go again for this Saturday and then organised for the midweek fixture against Luncarty.”

Luncarty’s unbeaten North Division run was extended to eight games on Saturday following a 3-3 draw away at East Craigie.

Richard Doig gave the Bleachers the perfect start by netting two early goals but, by half-time, the Dundee squad were level through Liam McCartney and Nick Mann.

After the break the hosts took the lead but in the 80th minute Lewis Allan was the man to fire home the leveller, earning Luncarty a deserved point.

In east Perthshire, new Blairgowrie signing Stefan Brown netted twice but it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat.

Blair lost 3-2 to Dundee North End at Davie Park.