More midweek magic from the mighty Swifts It’s Riverside delight against league leaders Penicuik
JEANFIELD SWIFTS ...................... 4 PENICUIK ........................................ 1
It’s now clear that Jeanfield Swifts love a Wednesday night under the lights.
For the second consecutive midweek fixture, home fans were treated to their favourites turning on the style and earning a big win.
The latest team on the receiving end of a top Riverside performance was East of Scotland League Premier Division leaders Penicuik.
Advanced midfielder Gary Fergus started the party in Perth with a finish on the volley before an own goal had Swifts two up at the break.
There remained life in the visitors and they did up the tempo in the second half and pulled one back through Matty Combe.
For a few minutes it looked ominous but step forward Paul Simpson.
The crafty midfielder cut in from the right flank and curled a beauty of a leftfooted strike into the far bottom corner.
Swifts’ tails were quickly up again and it did not take long for Chris McLeish, in fine form, to kill the game with a neat fourth.
“The start of the game was first class,” said delighted boss Ross Gunnion.
“We put them under serious pressure.
“I thought we did that well again, similar to the Darvel game. The twogoal margin at half-time was the right result.
“But credit to Penicuik - they are top of the league for a reason - who are incredibly good at getting back into games.”
Gunnion had a word of praise for Simpson’s decisive third goal - and was even taking a bit of the credit himself!
“Six weeks ago he wasn’t producing that finish very well,” he smiled.
“But after a coaching session from myself he started to get a little bit better. So 100 per cent I’m taking the credit!
“He was previously aiming for the top corner but now he is aiming bottom or middle. He is performing very well.
“He gets the ball for you and plays. I don’t think I’ve worked with a player with as much talent.”
Swifts sit fourth in the standings - behind Penicuik, Tranent and Linlithgow Rose - and it does seem too late to mount a charge nearer the top.
Gunnion admits that is frustrating but he said: “You need to give a lot of credit to Penicuik, Tranent and Linlithgow.
“They have been unbelievably consistent. We’re the best of the rest and we’ll do our damnedest to claw them back.”
The busy schedule continues tomorrow afternoon with Swifts hitting the road for League Cup Group A action.
Armadale Thistle, who sit third in the Conference X, provide the opposition.