Keeper setback no barrier

The Colts went into this match knowing their opposition, Jeanfield Swifts, had been on an impressive run of results and would pose sufficient dangers requiring them to be on top of their form to get the win that would see them pull three points away from them.

A blow for the Colts was served up prior to kick off with keeper Murren Stevenson, who’d had some impressive performances this season, failing a fitness test. Lisa McPhee, the club’s other recognised keeper was not in the squad due to illness. However, in stepped player manager Julie McSherry who proved to be a more than adequate substitute. McSherry having played in between the sticks several years previous for the side.

The Colts lost the toss and had to change ends from how they would normally kick off.

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Cumbernauld set about trying to opening the scoring early and went close on numerous occasions thanks to a flurry of corners around the ten-minute mark. Unfortunately they’d come to nothing as the visitors cleared.

The opening goal came in the 15th minute. Jackson won the ball in the middle of the Jeanfield half. She passed the ball to Rebecca Young who fed Frances Fern wide on the right. Fern took on a Swifts defender crossing for Keating to nod past McIlravey in the visitors goal.

Simpson almost doubled the lead on the half hour when Fern and Keating linked up again and the keeper was drawn out of her goal. As the ball fell at the feet of Simpson she lashed the ball goal ward. Unfortunately her shot was stopped on the line and cleared.

The home sides second would come on the 35th minute. A throw in taken just forward of their bench went to midfielder Emma McIntyre. She heard a call from the impressive Jackson who’d rushed up from her right back position. Jackson pushed on and as she was unchallenged getting to the 18 yard box struck an unstoppable shot doubling her sides lead.

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Swifts were, well, swift in pulling a goal back. Straight from the kick off they went directly forward and one of their most influential players Dannielle McGinley lashed the ball past McSherry inside of a minute going two down.

At half-time McSherry praised her side’s attacking play but asked them to make things a little tighter when they were not in possession of the ball and stop the visitors further up the park.

The difference in the second half would prove to the benches. Unfortunately for the visitors they were unable to make any changes as they had only brought 11 players. McSherry had a near full compliment to freshen things up.

Just before the hour Wardlaw replaced Simpson and Morrison replaced captain Blair. Morrison went close inside five minutes of coming on when McIlravey tipped her shot over.

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The Colts pressed forward and again had a two-goal advantage just after the 70th minute from substitute Sarah Wardlaw. Wardlaw, who’d been called offside several times just prior to her goal was found by Morrison following excellent wok from man of the match Lynsay Galbraith. Wardlaw beating the offside and driving in to finish.

Galbraith again was provider two minutes later when she torn down the left and crossed for Wardlaw to lash her cross low to the keepers right making it 4-1.

With the visitors clearly tiring in the Cumbernauld sun the final goal came four minutes before the end. Wilson won the ball inside her own half and fed Fern who ran clean through on goal. Wardlaw screamed forward hoping to get a lay off and complete her hat trick but Fern had other ideas. Just as she got inside the box she dinked the ball 
past McIlravey.

After the match McSherry was quick to praise her side. “The bench were phenomenal in their application when they came on and got us the goals to close off the win,” she said.

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“But those that started the match had put in a fantastic shift to tire the opposition as they tried to compete with us.

“We’re still hopeful of completing the remainder of the season undefeated and will go to our next match away to Dunfermline on October 5 with confidence.”

Colts: McSherry, Galbraith, Ruth Young, Hutchison, Jackson, Blair (c) McIntyre, Keating, Rebecca Young, Fern and Simpson. Subs: Wilson, Wardlaw, Morrison, Broadley, Shaw and Stevenson

Swifts: McIlravey, Gray, Macleod, Martin, McGinley, McIntyre, Millar, Nicholson, Robertson (c), Shaw and Smith.