Two late headers from Chris McLeish earned Jeanfield Swifts a 2-0 victory against St Johnstone B on Wednesday evening.
The ‘Perth derby’ friendly fixture attracted a bumper crowd down to the Riverside but supporters of both sides were starved of goals until the final minutes.
That was when former Elgin City forward McLeish showed his clinical edge in the box to twice nod beyond goalkeeper Craig Hepburn, who looked solid between the posts for Saints.
East of Scotland Premier Division side Swifts had the better of the early sights at a breakthrough and, in particular, when Jamie Reid struck the outside of the post.
Connor McLaren, who played for Saints as a youngster, then sent a curling free-kick narrowly over the crossbar.
The young Perth side did begin to settle and look a touch more dangerous in the forward department. Baillie Pert showed off his neat feet with a clever stepover.
He then cut the ball back for Jackson Mylchreest who couldn’t guide the ball underneath the bar after making a front post run.
Saints goalkeeper Hepburn, who is from the Fair City, pulled off a terrific diving save on 32 minutes to deny Scott Mollison’s left-footed set-piece strike.
Chances in front of goal after the break were at a premium with defences on top. Liam Parker looked comfortable both in the air and on the deck alongside Bobby Dailly.
The best opportunity of the second half arrived in the 74th minute when Reid connected with a corner and watched as the ball looped over all but off the crossbar.
Soon, a quick burst from Pert took him deep into Swifts’ territory - then into the box - before he went down appealing for a penalty. The referee was unmoved.
Riverside youngster Scott Logan almost nudged the hosts ahead with time running short, although his header drifted wide of the mark.
But experienced forward McLeish twice used his head to great effect in the final minutes to net Swifts a 2-0 victory.
