A defensive lapse ended Dungannon Swifts’ three-game winning run as title challengers Crusaders passed another significant test at Stangmore Park.
The league leaders maintained their position at the top of the table after a strike from Paul Heatley overcame a determined Dungannon side. While not a classic, flowing performance from the Crues, it was the type of battling, gritty result on which championships are so often built. For Dungannon it was a disappointing loss, made all the more frustrating by the error which gift-wrapped Crusaders what proved to be the winning goal.It came in the 39thminute when Fra Brennan failed to cut out a long ball forward, allowing Heatley to ghost in and fire home a right-foot shot. But Swifts manager Darren Murphy can take consolation from a hard-working, committed performance from his players.
In a closely-fought game, they limited Crusaders to a handful of chances and had opportunities themselves to take something from the game. The best fell to David McCullough, Ryan Harpur – who impressed on his return to the team – and, most invitingly, to Matt Hazley in the final seconds. Harpur’s energy and defensive work in midfield was a positive, albeit Dungannon did miss the injured Johnny Topley’s class and experience. The loss of Jamie Douglas’s attacking guile, also because of injury, made their task more difficult.
Darren Boyce, their leading scorer and November’s player of the month, rarely threatened albeit he suffered from a lack of service. For Crusaders this was another important win although, as manager Stephen Baxter pointed out, the season is only at its halfway point. It is still too early to make definitive judgements on their title chances. The Crues had hit top spot last weekend and were quickly into their stride at Stangmore Park, stringing together some promising moves in the opening stages. Gary McCutcheon had the first chance with a neat turn and shot from distance, while the impressive Heatley tested Niall Morgan with a 25-yard snapshot. But the best chance of the opening half came in the 22nd minute. Stefan Lavery’s strike was spilled by the goalkeeper but Sean O’Neill redeemed his error by making an important block to prevent McCullough converting the loose ball.
The game began to open up towards the end of the first period. A Jordan Owens pass found Chris Morrow in the box, he missed his kick but got the ball across to Heatley, only for him to pull his shot wide.
Crusaders were starting to pose more of a threat, aided by some hesitancy in the home back line, and this led to the opening goal.
A promising Dungannon attack broke down and, as the ball was pumped forward, Brennan failed to cut out the danger, allowing Heatley to cut inside and fire home. It was a hugely disappointing way for Swifts to go behind, and it could have got worse three minutes later. Another error, this time from Adam McMinn, saw the ball find its way to Owens, but he opted to take his shot early and rifled just wide. Boyce, who had been quiet thus far, had a chance after the restart but couldn’t find the target with a free-kick from wide on the left. The second half was largely subdued, but as the game entered the final quarter of an hour, Dungannon threatened an equaliser.
A foul on Chris Lavery led to a free-kick, with Harpur’s well-struck effort just a little too central, allowing the goalkeeper to tip it over. But the best chance came in stoppage time. McMinn set up Jamie Glackin, who opted to cross instead of shoot with Hazley directing his header just wide of the back post.
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, Brennan, McMinn, McCaffrey, Grieve, McCullough (Hazley, 58), Hutchinson (Costello, 85), C Lavery, Boyce, S Lavery (Glackin, 82), Harpur
Subs not used: Lowe, Fitzpatrick
CRUSADERS: O’Neill, Leeman, Magowan, Coates, Robinson, Morrow, Heatley, Adamson, McCutcheon, Owens (Snoddy, 76), McClean
Subs not used: Hanley, McMaster, Watson, McAllister
Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast)