Swifts battle to escape the drop
Latest defeat puts strain on their Super League spot
Jeanfield Swifts manager Ross Gunnion admits there is little room for error as the club’s bid to remain in the Super League heats up.
The Perth men suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Hill of Beath on Saturday afternoon in a game lacking quality.
Gunnion knows his Swifts, who sit one place above the automatic drop zone, face a battle for the remainder of the season to secure safety.
“The result on Saturday puts pressure on us to pick up points now,” Gunnion told the Perthshire Advertiser.
“There can be very few slips from here on out if we want to play Super League football next season.
“That said, I have confidence in the players to dig themselves out of a hole.
“We’ve proved over the last two seasons that we have enough quality to win games at this level.
“It’s a big six weeks coming up for the club but I expect a positive outcome.”
Gunnion believes Saturday’s match was not a great advert for the Super League.
The only goal of the game came in the 74th minute when Lee Deans was short with a back pass, allowing for Lee Reid to capitalise and find the back of the net.
“I thought it was an incredibly poor game,” Gunnion said. “Hill of Beath came with a game plan to spoil the game and attempted to play very little football.
“The disappointing thing, though, was that we got sucked into their game and both teams continually played it long in hope rather than trying to play football.
“It was only going to be a mistake which won the game and unfortunately for us we made it.
“We should have been ahead in the first half but Robbie Holden was unlucky when he crashed a volley off the cross bar.
“But that aside we didn’t show
Aaron Carlon (far right) is congratulated by team-mates. Picture: Jon Baker enough cutting edge or desire to go on the clock. before Stevie McAllister wrapped up and get a goal.” This was to be an afternoon to the 5-3 win in the second half.
Gunnion went on: “The margins remember for the youngster, who Kinnoull, meanwhile, continue to outside of the top four or five are thin. didn’t take long to add his second of go about their business quietly and
“I see very little difference in quality the contest. successfully. between the bottom teams up to He calmly finished after Martin Alan Cameron’s men defeated perhaps Broughty Athletic. Strachan had nodded into his path Arbroath Vics 4-0 at Tulloch Park on
“The key for these teams is a little from a Max Avolio cross. Saturday afternoon. experience which transforms draws There was time for Carlon to net Their cause was helped when the into wins and losses into draws. a third before the interval when he visitors were reduced to nine-men in
“We should have been experienced rounded the Coupar defence to then the opening stages of the fixture. enough to come away with a 0-0 draw strike beyond Ryan Stewart. Matt Keogh was flashed a red card at the very worst on Saturday.” On 75 minutes, Gary Mackie put the for a last man challenge before Dave
In the North Division, hat-trick hero result beyond any doubt. Sturrock’s protests led to his early Aaron Carlon helped Scone Thistle At Brownlands Park, Luncarty and bath. record a 4-0 Perthshire derby win Blairgowrie served up an eight-goal Goals from Tom Whyte (2), Ben against Coupar Angus. thriller - seven of which were scored Ragan and Dell Newlands bagged the
Manager Derek Lawson placed his in the first half. three points. trust in the 16-year-old as the Jags Bleachers goals from Richard There are two midweek fixtures boss looked to freshen things up after Donovan, Stuart Nicol and Richie for local sides with Jeanfield Swifts a disappointing defeat last weekend. Montgomery were cancelled out by away at Carnoustie in the GA Cup on
And he got the response he was after James Simpson, Matty Adam and Wednesday. when Carlon, making his second start Gordon Norrie. On the same evening, Blairgowrie for the side, fired into the top corner But Danny Dobbie nudged Luncarty travel to take on Lochee Harp in the at Foxhall Park with only 12 minutes back in front as the break approached North Division.