
Hillfield Swifts produced a dominant display to overcome St Johns Rovers on Sunday and claim the Summer Cup at Humbug Park in Crossgates.
Goals from Andrew McDonald and Lewis Hunter, as well as braces for Logan Donaldson, Scott Cameron and Jack Moffat completed the win, and condemned St Johns to defeat in the most emphatic fashion.
It was a fast start from Swifts, who wasted no time in opening the scoring. Early pressure paid off almost instantly as Donaldson was played through on the right side of the area to slide the ball coolly under the advancing Craig Jamieson in the Rovers goal.
The same move almost brought a quick second for Hillfield as Donaldson was played in again, but this time he could only volley wide.
There was not long to wait however before the second goal did arrive, and although it was still early days it was clear St Johns now had a real fight on their hands.
A cross into the box was punched clear by Jamieson, but after taking a touch to control Cameron was able to volley the ball back with inch-perfect precision straight into the bottom corner.
Already two goals down and with the match still so young, St Johns had to try and find a way back into the game. Dylan Gilmour went close with a shot across goal that was well saved by Macaulay Jarrett in goal for Swifts, before hitting the side netting not long after with a left-footed shot.
Hillfield then made a mess of a throw in deep inside their own territory allowing Connor Crombie to get a shot away, but with Jarrett flat-footed on his line the ball was steered agonisingly wide.
Gilmour then tried his luck from distance with a dipping free kick which was tipped away well by Jarrett, and from the resulting corner Gilmour again got a shot away, meeting the ball with a firm header that brought another good save from the keeper.
Despite the pressure from St Johns, Hillfield still held a two-goal led and were looking to increase their advantage as half time approached.
Donaldson did well to get to the by-line and deliver a good ball into the box, but the pass was behind everyone in the area and the danger was cleared. A well worked free kick routine then ended with a shot on goal, but the effort was not on target.
Connor Young then had a pop for St Johns, but the shot was wide as Hillfield held on to their two-goal lead.
Despite the best efforts of St Johns, it was a lead that was soon increased thanks to a headed goal from McDonald. A free kick into the box found him unmarked and able to nod home to put his team three goals to the good. It could have been even worse for St Johns moments later, when a quick free kick got Cameron through the offside trap and bearing down on goal, but Jamieson pulled off a fantastic save to deny the attacker.
St Johns continued to press for a goal, and Owen Roy went close with a whipped free kick that beat the wall, but also beat the crossbar. Dylan Hunter then had a chance after being teed up by Young, but the shot was mishit and went horribly wide.