Michael Scott heads Hillfield Swifts 2-0 ahead at Dalgety Bay

Dalgety Bay Sports Centre, in Fife, was an oasis in an otherwise barren desert of postponements through wet or frozen pitches in and around Edinburgh this weekend. But the excellent "astro" surface at Dalgety Bay hosted a succession of otherwise postponed games and the morning re-arranged U16 league fixture between Hillfield Swifts and Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic was one game that went ahead.

The windy conditions made it difficult for both sides but with a "level playing field" it was Swifts' excellent passing game that shone through and they very comfortably and deservedly won this match handsomely.

The match opened competitively and fairly evenly without either side troubling the opposing goalkeeper. But it was Hillfield Swifts, playing against the wind, that started to assert themselves on this match and the direction of play grew more and more towards the goal tended by Rhys Leggett.

Two quick chances fell Swifts' way in the 14th minute. First of all their rampaging left back, Liam Munro, swung in a cross from the left wing and Josh Williams's flicked header only just evaded the right hand post. Then Reece Strathern had a good chance inside the box, but he snatched at it and sent it past the left hand post.

7 minutes later and Robbie Burns only just failed to meet Darryl Brockie's excellent back post cross with his outstretched leg. And Swifts had another chance shortly afterwards as again Liam Munro flew down the left flank and sent a wonderful ball across the face of the goal which Burns missed and the chance was gone.

It was entirely one way traffic with Bonnyrigg failing to hold onto the ball and too quick to simply lump it forward. The better side by far was Hillfield who passed and moved very well and were completely in control of proceedings. But the Bonnyrigg defence of Steven Miller, Rory Russell, Ryan Chapman and Euan Gray played brilliantly to thwart the many attacks and Rhys Leggett in goals mopped up everything that did get past them.

But a minute before half time their defences finally succumbed. Again it was big Liam Munro who was the provider and this time the ball fell kindly to Josh Williams in the middle of the Bonnyrigg box. His shot took a deflection on its way over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. It was a shade fortunate in its execution but no more than Hillfield deserved for their dominance.

Almost immediately and Swifts had the chance to go in 2-0 at the break. Michael Scott, who showed tremendous hold up play throughout the first half took the ball into feet inside the box, spun and sent his shot inches wide of Rose's right hand upright.

Half Time 1-0

With the wind behind them, Hillfield Swifts must have expected to close this game out fairly comfortably and so it proved to be. The second half was only 7 minutes old when they doubled their lead.

A corner, which appeared to be straight from the training ground, was expertly executed by Michael Scott after a lovely ball in from the increasingly influential Ethan Wilkinson. A clutch of blue bodies congregated at the edge of the box before spinning and spreading out as Wilkinson begun his run up. The ball was played to the front post where Scott deftly flicked the ball towards the centre of the goal and into the empty net.

Three minutes later and it was 3-0. Again it was a Wilkinson corner that did the damage. And again there was no challenge as this time Darryl Brockie knocked the ball home from the middle of the box past the helpless replacement goalkeeper Josh Cairns.

Moments later and it should have been four. Right back David Picksley found himself in the six yard box but he shot over the bar when it looked easier to score.

Hillfield Swifts were now growing in confidence and were knocking the ball about very well. Players were starting to try things that they otherwise might not have done and a high score looked on the cards. Conversely the confidence seemed to be sapping from Bonnyrigg Rose as their midfield fell out of the match and it was left to the back four to keep the score down.

And keep it down they did until the final 8 minutes. But not before the excellent Ethan Wilkinson had a chance to make it 4-0. On 64 minutes Aidan Stewart was brought down after some brilliant play by Reece Strathern but Wilkinson shot over the bar from the penalty spot. Wilkinson then went on to have several more close attempts on goal without hitting the net, but he was seeing lots of the ball and along with Reece Strathern was running the show for Swifts in the second period.

Then on 72 minutes Hillfield went four up and it was Ethan Wilkinson that finally struck one home. He was played in brilliantly by Aidan Stewart before slotting the ball low and hard into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Two minutes later it was five and what a goal it was. Wee Patrick Robertson found himself fully 30 yards from goal and in the most relaxed manner shot high over the outstretched arms of Josh Cairns and into the net. It was a terrific strike from the young midfielder.

With five minutes remaining, and the fight gone completely from Bonnyrigg, Liam Munro strode forward and hit a low shot past the helpless Cairns to round off a comprehensive win for the Inverkeithing side.

Full Time 6-0

Bonnyrigg competed well in the early stages and defended brilliantly throughout the first half but they were always chasing this match and didn't really create anything of note in the eighty minutes. Their doggedness in defence brought out good performances from the back four of Steven Miller, Rory Russell, Ryan Chapman and Euan Gray. They were ably assisted by first half goalkeeper Rhys Leggett. In midfield, Jamie Hope tried hard to get  a hold of the ball but he was outdone by bigger and stronger opponents in that area of the pitch.

Swifts were excellent throughout. As the game wore on so the performance level increased and you could see the confidence levels rising. Michael Scott played an excellent front man role, holding the ball up and playing others into the game. Ethan Wilkinson had a brilliant second half on the right hand side and Reece Strathern had an equally good second forty. In David McManus they have a very strong central midfielder and he was very well assisted by Josh Williams, Darryl Brockie and Patrick Robertson.

In truth there wasn't a single failure in the Swifts line up but The Pink Man of the Match goes to Liam Munro. He marauded down the left flank time after time and sent countless balls into the Bonnyrigg box. Terrific control and composure on the ball and always looking to play the easy ball when a cross wasn't on. He capped off a fine performance by slotting home his side's final goal.

Liam Munro