Jeanfield 0 Hill of Beath 2: Swifts spurn chance to edge closer to the top as resolute Fife visitors earn three points

Jeanfield Swifts spurned the opportunity to edge closer to the top of the Premier Division after losing to Hill of Beath on Wednesday night.

Swifts, third in the table before kick-off - they remain there - had aspirations of nudging closer to league leaders Linlithgow Rose.

But a resolute Fife side left the Riverside with three points thanks to a Ross Allum first half finish and a late own goal.

Swifts had been content to ping the ball around patiently in the early exchanges and had a wonderful sight of goal nine minutes in.

Chris McLeish, always a clever operator, neatly nodded down into the path of Chris Scott inside the box but his low, guided effort was straight at the goalkeeper.

Not long after Hill of Beath were eyeing up their own promising opening from a free-kick on the edge of the box. Allum took responsibility but fired his effort at the wall.

He would, however, get it right in the 25th minute with a precise finish from close range which navigated high into the net.

Scott Smith immediately had a chance to retaliate after being slipped through on goal but could only prod his attempt the wrong side of the post.

As half-time approached centre-half Kieran Sweeney went close with a glancing header. Not close enough and Swifts found themselves trailing at the break.

Hill of Beath had defended admirably in that opening half and continued to be strong at the back following the restart.

Chris Dodd did have an opportunity on the hour mark but couldn’t connect properly with a square ball into the box and it trundled harmlessly away from goal.

With 67 minutes on the clock a direct, high pass over the top evaded the Perth backline and Allum, taking advantage, sent a looping effort onto the roof of the net.

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