Swifts lost lead in last minute
Perth squad see red as Kennoway battle back
Nine-man Jeanfield Swifts suffered a late sickener to share the points with Kennoway Star Hearts on Wednesday night.
The Perth side opened up a two goal cushion courtesy of a delightful Chris Anton free-kick and a Rhys Davies penalty.
But the hosts worked their way into the game with a Mark Partridge header and then a dramatic last minute leveller from Mathew Gay.
Discipline came back to bite Swifts as Chris Scott and Lee Deans were both sent off in the second half of this Super League encounter.
There is a uniqueness about junior football. Perhaps none more unique than the setting of Kennoway’s home stadium.
Walking uphill alongside cattlestrewn fields leads you to the entrance gate, where you’re met with an extreme sloping surface.
The feeling before kick-off was that shooting downwards would offer a significant advantage. And that proved to be the case in the early stages as Jeanfield applied the pressure.
In fact, Robbie Holden could have given the Perth side the lead as local punters were still shuffling through the turnstile. The forward carved out space by jinking in from the left but, with the goal at his mercy, smashed high over the boundary fence.
Swifts were on the front foot and in the third minute neat work between Daniel Kelly and Scott resulted in the latter having a low strike saved by the legs of the home keeper. It wasn’t all one way traffic, however. Kennoway’s Dylan Muir had time to line up a drive from range, but it drifted clear of the cross bar.
The loyal travelling contingent of Riverside supporters were soon celebrating. That was when captain Anton curled a perfect 25-yard free-kick into the back of the net, clipping the inside of the post on its way in.
It was a wake up call for the hosts and they had a glorious opportunity to level not long after. Clever and powerful work down the right flank allowed the ball to be cut back for Josh Binnington, who fluffed his lines with the goal at his mercy.
Building on their early advantage would have been the plan for Swifts as thoughts about pushing uphill in the second half came into thinking. They almost did double their tally when Holden’s effort was saved, only for Davies to smash the loose ball off the woodwork.
Kennoway finished the half strongly and Gay twice went close to levelling the scores. First he forced Mark Mitchell into making a clever save before smashing inches wide of the far post minutes later.
Gay was again causing problems in the second half and was slipped through on goal at the angle in the 57th minute. But again Mitchell, as so often is the case, stood tall to deny the forward.
The stop provided Swifts with the chance to break and Davies was inches away from extending the Perth lead with a downwards volley at the back post. Somehow the ball slipped the wrong side of the post.
There was soon an opportunity to make amends from the penalty spot. Kelly was downed in the box by home keeper Robbie Paterson and Davies made no mistake with his low drive into the bottom corner.
It would be a case of seeing out the remainder but Kennoway
Chris Scott (left) was attacking with intent before being sent off in the latter stages livened up proceedings by netting with 15 minutes remaining. Partridge was the man to nod home in a crowded penalty area.
Swifts were making life difficult for themselves. Especially when Scott was sent packing after picking up a second yellow card. And the home side almost took advantage immediately but again Gay was denied by Mitchell.
Deans was then given his marching orders, also for a two bookings, as Kennoway bombarded the visiting net. They would grab a last minute leveller when Gay finally made the breakthrough. It was a sickener for Swifts.
Jeanfield: Mitchell, Anton, Deans, Gunnion, Yates, Dewar, Fergus (MacKenzie 23), Kelly, Scott, Holden (Donovan 57), Davies (McDermid 80).