Ten-man Dungannon Swifts survived a late Ards fightback to claim a first league victory away from their Stangmore Park fortress this season.
A double from Darren Boyce and a Matt Hazley penalty secured a second successive win, moving them up to seventh in the table.
In the end it was harder work than it should have been – or seemed it would be after 18 minutes, by which stage Boyce had put them 2-0 up.
However, Ards, having hit the post in the first half, pulled one back via Neil Dougan, setting up a frantic second period.
Hazley re-established the two-goal advantage from the spot before receiving a second yellow card, leaving Dungannon down to 10 men.
By that stage Ards, having pulled it back to 3-2, were piling on the pressure, but Swifts saw it out to record another important win.
It wasn’t their first away victory – that was the season opener against Warrenpoint Town, played in Dungannon because of the clubs’ ground-share agreement.
The key man was undoubtedly Boyce, just as he was in the sides’ last league meeting in September.
After that game Dungannon went seven matches without a Premiership win, but last weekend’s victory over Linfield, and now this win, suggests they are right back on track.
Unsurprisingly Darren Murphy kept faith with the same 11 who featured against the Blues, and it proved the right call as Dungannon quickly took control of the game.
The opening goal came inside three minutes as Kris Lowe crossed to Hazley, and he cut the ball back for Boyce to convert from eight yards.
The striker almost grabbed a spectacular second. Spotting the goalkeeper off his line, he tried his luck from the halfway line but Gareth McKibbin did well to deny him.
It could have been a very different game had the woodwork not intervened, with Andy Hunter’s 25-yard free-kick coming back off the upright.
Ards’ misery was compounded when they conceded a second in the 18th minute.
Hazley played a superb cross from the left which picked out Boyce, and his looping header back across goal crept inside the far post.
The 2-0 lead made the inclement weather conditions more bearable for visiting fans.
Their afternoon nearly got even better but McKibbin managed to tip Hazley’s corner clear of goal, while David McCullough was well denied by the goalkeeper.
Ards had a rare chance when Dougan cut in from the left but his shot had too much height and went over.
Trailing 2-0 at the break, it seemed a long way back for the home side, but they gave themselves hope two minutes into the second half.
Dougan drifted inside and sent a looping cross into the box which evaded everyone, finding the net to leave the game back in the balance.
Suddenly Ards were in the ascendancy and Niall Morgan had to make a diving save to keep out Scott Davidson’s strike. Hunter and Ryan Henderson also went close with headed efforts.
Dungannon were back in control when they added a third in the 71st minute.
Stefan Lavery was brought down in the box by Steven McCullough, leading to a penalty. Hazley took responsibility, blasting home from the spot.
But Ards ensured a nervous finish, first pulling a goal back when Mark McClelland volleyed in Dougan’s free-kick to make it 3-2 with 11 minutes still to play.
And things became more tense when Hazley – already cautioned for dissent – was sent off for a second booking.
A brilliant fingertip save from Morgan denied Paul McDowell as Ards pushed for an equaliser, but Dungannon held on for another crucial win.
ARDS: McKibbin, Gordon (P McDowell, 85), Hunter, Spence, McCullough, Faulkner, Henderson, Dougan, McClelland, Mitchell, Davidson (Roy, 78)
Subs not used: Smith, D Cully, McMillan
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, Lowe, Grieve, McMinn, McCaffrey, McCullough, Topley, Hutchinson (Harpur, 46), Hazley, Boyce (C Lavery, 85), Douglas (S Lavery, 54)
Subs not used: Brennan, Glackin
Referee: Tim Marshall (Irvinestown)
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