It was party time in Belfast at the weekend, but Dungannon Swifts had little reason to celebrate after another afternoon of frustration.
While the stars of the music world were in town, there was nothing to sing and dance about at Seaview where the weekend’s big basement battle finished in stalemate.
A second half strike from Stephen O’Neill rescued a deserved point for Carrick Rangers and stretched Dungannon’s winless run to eight league matches.
This was another fixture they will feel should have brought three points, but which illustrated the small margins that so often decide these games.
There was one penalty that was controversially awarded, another two which weren’t, and a moment’s lapse in concentration that denied Dungannon the victory.
The penalty that was given was scored by Joe McCready, arguably Swifts’ best player.
But it wasn’t enough to secure victory, with an unfortunate error presenting the ball to O’Neill for Carrick’s equaliser.
Ultimately a point is not a disaster. Dungannon stay ahead of Carrick and have actually gained a place, rising above this weekend’s opponents Lisburn Distillery on goal difference.
However, a record of two wins from 15 games is not good enough, and Dixie Robinson will know that has to improve if his side are to avoid a season-long fight for survival.
Robinson missed Saturday’s game because he was in London concluding transfer business, with Darren Murphy taking temporary charge.
His place on the pitch was filled by Ryan O’Neill, with McCready starting in place of Johnny Topley.
And the striker justified his recall by putting Dungannon in front after 18 minutes.
Stefan Lavery chased a long pass into the box but was sent crashing to the ground by Anto Lagan. McCready calmly dispatched the resulting penalty into the bottom left corner.
Both these teams are struggling at the wrong end of the table, with just five wins in 24 games between them prior to Saturday.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was a match of few chances with neither goalkeeper unduly troubled.
Declan Brown, making his debut for Carrick, turned away an early effort from Lavery while also blocking a Johnny Montgomery shot after a corner had been touched on.
Carrick’s first sight of goal came when Paul Heatley crossed to O’Neill. He controlled the ball with his chest but fired well over the crossbar.
Later in the half another Heatley delivery found the impressive Grant Hutchinson on the edge of the box, but again his effort lacked accuracy and failed to work the goalkeeper.
The Carrick fans’ frustration continued when the referee rejected a penalty appeal following a clash between Heatley and Terry Fitzpatrick in the box. While there may have been some contact, the striker seemed a little too eager to go down.
Yet it illustrated Carrick’s growing pressure and Niall Morgan had to make a top save in the 38th minute, stretching out a hand to help O’Neill’s 25-yard strike over the crossbar,
Just before half-time Dungannon looked to have another decent penalty shout when Michael Ward went down in the box. Again Lagan was the offender, but this time the appeals were rejected.
They had another chance from open play within minutes of the restart as McCready cut into the box, but he placed the ball just wide from close range.
Carrick’s use of the ball was good, but they rarely threatened the Swifts’ goal – until a defensive slip-up handed them the equaliser out of nothing.
An attempted back pass caught out the defence, and the ball was collected by O’Neill who ran through before blasting past a helpless Morgan.
Dungannon finished strongly. McCready turned a Craig McClean cross into the path of Ward but the goalkeeper managed to get something on his shot.
A long-range effort from McCready then flashed wide, while in the closing stages Fitzpatrick’s thumping 30-yard strike crashed back off the crossbar.
CARRICK RANGERS: Brown, Murray, Bell, Lagan, McClean, Smith, Deans (Anderson, 42), Hutchinson, O’Neill, McDowell (Lynch, 72), Heatley
Subs not used: Jalko, Hogan, Stewart
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, Mullan, Montgomery, McCluskey, McCaffrey, Fitzpatrick, O’Neill, Ward, Lavery, McCready (Campbell, 84), McClean
Subs not used: C Forker, Funston, McKerr, Murphy
Referee: Hugh Carvill (Belfast)
