The Swifts entertained Carryduff Athletic at Millbridge in a league game on Saturday and they were quickly into their stride on 5 minutes when Alan Massey struck a left foot shot which the Carryduff keeper failed to hold and it trickled over the goal line.
The 1-0 lead quickly became 2-0 after Aaron McCaffrey had chased a lost cause into the box and was brought down to gain a penalty. Up stepped Dylan Fitzpatrick to score his first senior goal with a well-placed shot.
The game settled down with Carryduff gaining more possession without causing the home defence much trouble while the Swifts continued with their pressing game and hunting down the ball. Defensively Alex Burtney and Ben Onhua were linking with midfielders, while Ross Hayes fresh from a family holiday made an instant partnership with Dylan Fitzpatrick to thwart a Carryduff team which had been in free scoring mode in their previous games.
Alan Massey and Gregg Allison set about testing the full backs and from such a run Allison had a fine shot saved while Massey tried his luck again with a long range shot which shaved the cross bar.
Johnny Stevenson who was making his first start of the season was leading the line well with Aaron McCaffrey who both did all they were asked to do by forcing errors and creating chances.
The 3rd goal came when a deep hanging cross from Greg Allison found Jack Davis to head home from 8 yards. Davis’s partner in midfield Corey Fitzpatrick was playing a pivoting role in breaking up play which enabled the Swifts to take a commanding 3-0 lead into the half time break.
Carryduff marshalled by former United defender Davy Boal took the game to the Swifts for the first 10mins of the 2nd half and despite all their pressure John McMenamin remained dominant in goal holding crosses as well as making some great saves.
Manager Alan Davis made his 1st change by bringing on the terrier like Craig Tate and within 2mins he found himself on the scoresheet as he sniffed out a rebound from a corner. Other shots from Davis tested the Carryduff keeper while a solo run from Allison almost created a fifth.
The 4-0 score line reflected a great afternoon’s work by all of the fourteen man Swifts squad.