The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Stylish Swankie’s pulling the strings
ARBROATH: Local hero revelling in new midfield role as he orchestrates hard-fought win
ARBROATH 1 EAST FIFE 0
He was one of the key members of the 2011 League One title-winning Arbroath side that wrote themselves into the history books with their first ever championship success.
He’s also Arbroath born and bred and in his fourth spell at a Gayfield side he used to leap over the turnstiles to watch as a boy.
However, while Gavin Swankie is a lynchpin of 2018-19 Team Arbroath, he has also stepped back from his former role as free-scoring striker to dominate the heart of the pitch from a holding midfield role.
And he’s doing it in style, with his dominant display in Saturday’s hardfought win over East Fife illustrating exactly how much Swankie – who turns 35 this month – has adapted his game for the League One leaders.
“Gavin has been playing a lot deeper than he normally does for us this season but has been doing really well,” said Michael McKenna, who netted Arbroath’s winning goal.
“He has fantastic playing ability and really holds us together in the middle. He’s two-footed and has the quality and composure on the ball that others lack.
“I’m not as composed as Gavin. I’m a bit more frantic with the ball at my feet but I bring other qualities.
“Everyone brings something different to the table and that’s what makes a good team. We can’t all be the same type of player. We have so many players playing their part right now.
“Look at Bobby Linn. The amount of balls he puts into the box for us makes him a nightmare to play against.
“Danny Denholm puts in a power of work and David Gold has come in for Mark Whatley to do really well for us.
“We are all pulling together as a team and that’s why we are top of the league.”
Saturday’s showing was more about graft than guile as the Gayfield side turned in a gritty display to see off East Fife.
With a swirling wind making playing conditions almost impossible, it was never going to be a classic.
But the desire and determination from Arbroath to chase down every loose ball and make the crucial last-ditch tackles was clearly evident.
Not so evident was the free-flowing, attacking football that has seen them storm to the top of the league.
Linn has been in sensational form this year but was somewhat stifled, but with Swankie’s range of passing carving the Fifers open, the hosts always looked favourites.
The only goal of the game came in 56 minutes as Ryan Wallace broke clear and squared to McKenna to stroke home.
East Fife struggled to respond but almost snatched a point in the dying seconds as sub Scott McBride’s curling cross crashed off the face of the crossbar.