Swifts hitting the high notes as season ends
Boss Gunnion expecting great things next term
The end of the Super League season is coming at the wrong time for Jeanfield Swifts.
That was the message from manager Ross Gunnion after he watched his side defeat Penicuik Athletic for the second time this term on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Rhys Davies and Robbie Holden allowed Swifts to pick up the impressive three points in a 2-0 victory away from home.
The Riverside men had smashed Forfar West End 6-0 in their previous fixture and Gunnion wishes this form had been displayed throughout the campaign.
“The season is ending a little too soon as we’ve started to find
Rhys Davies a rhythm to our play that we struggled with through stop-start winter months,” Gunnion said.
“But I’ve always said that we’re a young team with potential to improve and the result on Saturday just goes to show that.
“We are working hard to secure the majority of the squad ahead of next season and look to turn ourselves into a more consistent team.
“We’re also on the verge of bringing in two very high calibre players for next year who’ll add quality and experience to the team so the future for this team can be very bright.”
The hard-working win against Penicuik at the weekend was a real team effort with Gunnion heaping praise on his group of players.
“I was delighted with the performance,” he told the PA.
“It was up there with our best of the season and I felt we were in control of the game from start to finish.
“The individual and team performances were outstanding and to beat Penicuik, a team deservedly sitting in third place, for the second time this season shows the potential this squad has.
“A second clean sheet in a row was also pleasing and while credit goes to the defence, a huge part of it was down to the way we pressed from the front.
“Mark Mitchell also pulled off a fantastic save midway through the second half from one of Penicuik’s only chances.
“So credit for the clean sheet can’t just go to the defence.”
In the North Division, Coupar Angus brought the curtain down on their season in style with a comfortable 5-2 victory against Brechin Vics.
Goals from Murray Irvine, Lee Maloney, Stuart Banks (2) and Joe Sturrock helped the east Perthshire men to an emphatic triumph.
It left Foxhall Park players in a jubilant mood heading to their annual awards night later that evening, held at the Red House Hotel in Coupar Angus.
Players’ Player of the Year went to Allan Leith, Player of the Year to Alex Gibb while Stuart Banks took home the Top Goalscorer accolade.
Elsewhere, Scone Thistle produced another fine showing to defeat Lochee Harp 3-1 in Dundee.
Aaron Carlon’s double had the Jags two to the good heading into the final stages of the contest before the hosts pulled one back in the 84th minute.
But a late own goal secured the win for the Perthshire men and rounded off a productive campaign for Derek Lawson’s side.