Blackburn United 2 Sampson 21p, 82p
Jeanfield Swifts 4 McLaren 6, 11, Simpson 45, Forrest OG 50
Burnie started with a re-shuffled defence as captain Marcus Millar was ruled out though illness. James Mildren took the armband in his 200th appearance for the club.
After only two minutes Calum Heath saw a free-kick saved by Sam Townsley in the Swifts goal, and then at the other end Ewan Moyes headed over from a corner.
A minute later Swifts took the lead when a shot from just outside the box from Connor McLaren took a deflection off David Wilson and looped over Welna into the net. It was McLaren again who was on hand to double the lead shortly after when he was unmarked in the six yard box to power a header past Welna from a Scott cross.
Burnie fought back and when it looked as though Kyle Sampson was breaking into the box he was brought down by Moyes who was shown the red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity. A free kick was awarded whick Townsley saved from Sampson.
However Burnie did get a goal back when Sampson again broke into the box and was brought down by Townsley. He dusted himself down to convert the spot kick. Heath then had a chance to equalise but his effort was tipped over.
After the frantic opening, the game settled down as Swifts adjusted to being a man down and right on half-time they grabbed a third when a high bouncing ball on the edge of the box looked to be covered by David Wilson, but a nudge in the back by Paul Simpson was somehow missed by all officials, he took possession and slotted past Welna.
The opening minutes weren’t much better for Burnie and a low cross into the box was stabbed into his own net by Adam Forrest.
Swifts were happy to protect their three-goal cushion as Burnie huffed and puffed to get a foothold back into the game, which didn’t come until the 82nd minute when Richie Hutton was brought down in the box and it was Sampson again who converted the spot kick.
The ten men though saw out the game to claim all three points.
Blackburn United: Jakub Welna, James Mildren, Joe Osbourne (Sam Thomas 86), David Wilson, Adam Forrest, Dominic Kane (Scott Richards 70), Calum Heath, David Howe, Sam Nicolson (Richie Hutton 62), Daryl Meikle (Jerry Otonti 62), Kyle Sampson. Unused subs: John Binnie,. Laurie Devine, Craig Saunders.
Jeanfield Swifts: Sam Townsley, Aaron Whitehead, Kieran Sweeney, Connor McLaren, Fraser Smith, Chris McLeish (Adam Leese 87), Paul Simpson (Rannoch Ramsay 80), Gary Fergus (Chris Dodd 67), Chris Scott, Scott Smith, Ewan Moyes. Unused subs: Mark Mitchell, Scott Mollison, Elliott Scott.
Referee: Rhys Struthers Assistants: Will Pare, Peter Dawson