Swifts ease into Shield third round

THE Swifts hosted Seagoe Res in the Mid Ulster Shield second round on Saturday and after 90 minutes comfortably booked their place in the next round with a seven goal haul.

The visitors play their football in Reserve Division Three of the Mid Ulster League and were always going to be a potential banana skin for the Swifts but right from the first whistle the home side gave Seagoe the respect of approaching this fixture with the same professional attitude they would have when playing any other league game.

Seagoe tried to contain the Swifts and had success in the opening ten minutes as they withstood relentless Rathfriland pressure from all areas of the pitch.

The first goal however came when a fast break forward saw Toal get the last touch to force the ball over the line and finally settle the nerves of the home side.

Goal number two arrived when Robb came across centre midfield and hit a slide rule pass behind the Seagoe backline where Johnston ran through and fired goalwards only for a Seagoe defender to divert his shot into the bottom corner.

The remaining ten minutes of the half saw contiued chances for the Swifts however they were unable to extend their lead.

The second half commenced with the swifts determined to keep up the pressure and were soon three goals up as Robb fired home from inside the box.

Goal four soon followed with Gilmore volleying home after the keeper had saved Toals effort. 
Seagoe were tiring now and the swifts launched wave after wave of attack.

A free flowing move down the right hand side saw Hollingsworth pull a cross back to the edge of the box to Gilmore who moved it square to captain Megaw for the latter to fire a fierce left footed drive against the bar and get onto the rebound to fire home goal number five.

From a free kick Murray found himself unmarked at the back post and he dived to head home a fine header for goal six.

Hollingsworth had a number of shots saved and Megaw also saw efforts saved by the visiting keeperto keep the scoreline from getting embarrassing.

Goal seven arrived when Robb fired a fine cross into the box from the right where the unmarked Toal wrapped up the scoring with a strong header.

A strong performance from the Swifts to get into the thirrd round of the Mid Ulster Shield.

They next host Armagh City Reserves in a top of the table clash on Saturday when they will be without the services of Gibbons and Heslip.

Both teams are unbeaten inleague form and the swifts will be up against a very strong outfit.

Team: Wilton, McComish, Murray, Gibbons, Lawson, Johnston, Megaw (capt), Gilmore, Robb, Toal, Heslip Subs; Hollingsworth, Maginess

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