Carling Premiership – Cliftonville -v- Dungannon Swifts
Our game away v Cliftonville which was scheduled for Saturday 7th January will now take place on Monday, 9 January 2012 and will be broadcast live on SKY. This game will kick-off at 7.45 pm.
Carling Premiership – Match day 24 – Dungannon Swifts -v- Glentoran – 02.01.12
Dungannon Swifts and Glentoran have agreed that the above match will now be played at Stangmore Park, Dungannon, on Saturday 31st December 2011. Kick off: 3.00pm.
They may not have seen too many wins, but Dungannon Swifts fans have certainly enjoyed their fair share of sensational goals this season.
The latest addition to an ever expanding collection came via the left boot of Johnny Topley, whose classy half-volley snatched a point against Donegal Celtic.
It was his first touch after coming on as a second half substitute, and a stunning way for the midfielder to mark his comeback from long-term injury.
And it proved crucial, rescuing a deserved point against the West Belfast side.
This result will have left boss Dixie Robinson with mixed feelings, and once again frustrated by his side’s failure to perform consistently for 90 minutes.
A poor first half saw the visitors lead through Declan O’Hara, but a dreadful goalkeeping blunder gifted Darren Murphy an equaliser soon after the restart.
Another Darren, Celtic’s Murray, put the visitors back in front and looked like slamming the brakes on Swifts’ vastly improved second half showing.
But then Topley came to the rescue with a goal every bit as memorable as the efforts from Dermot McCaffrey and Joe McCready which have lit up recent matches.
This was another of those clichéd game of two halves from Dungannon.
After a lacklustre opening 45 minutes, Swifts upped their game in the second period and looked the team more likely to win in the latter stages.
Taking just a point is disappointing. Dungannon had not won since the sides’ previous meeting last month – but Robinson had cause to be optimistic ahead of the rematch.
Donegal Celtic are one of just two teams that Swifts have beaten this season and do not have a good record at Stangmore Park, winning just once.
Yet they were on course to improve that record after O’Hara’s 30th minute opener.
It originated from a defensive mix-up. Adam McMinn’s failure to deal with a cross saw the ball reach Ryan Henderson, whose shot was deflected wide.
And the resulting corner from Kevin Keegan was met by O’Hara, with the defender outmuscled Ryan Mullan to head past the goalkeeper.
It was one of few chances in a low quality first half.
Dungannon were first to test the ‘keeper, with Michael Funston collecting a pass and driving forward before forcing Robert Robinson to make the block.
DC’s other effort came via Jonathan Harkness, whose long-range free-kick narrowly cleared the crossbar.
The game, like Dungannon, desperately needed inspiration – and moments after the restart it arrived in fortunate circumstances.
A horrible error from Robinson allowed Funston’s cross to slip from his grasp, and Murphy was waiting to knock the ball into an empty net.
Suddenly it was a different game – more open, passes finding their target, a greater energy and purpose from Swifts’ attacking players.
Yet DC threatened on the break and, after outwitting Mullan, Henderson’s angled strike drew a flying save from Niall Morgan.
The warning wasn’t heeded and another DC attack resulted in a second goal.
Eamon McAllister was allowed to drive up the right wing and he pulled the ball across for Murray, who got to the cross first and forced it over the line.
The goal drew an immediate response from Robinson. Shea Campbell and Ryan McCluskey were hauled off, with Shea McGerrigan and Topley coming on.
And the gamble paid instant dividends, with the latter drawing Dungannon level.
It followed more good approach play down the flanks, this time from Craig McClean. He crossed towards Topley who, after allowing the ball to bounce, scored with a stunning strike.
Dungannon had chances to snatch the points – Stefan Lavery just missed connecting with a ball across goal – but DC held on for a draw.
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, Mullan, McMinn, McCaffrey, McClean, Funston (Lavery, 80), McCluskey (McGerrigan, 64), Fitzpatrick, Murphy, Campbell (Topley, 64), Ward
Subs not used: Montgomery , McCready
DONEGAL CELTIC: Robinson, Keegan, Harkness, Bradley, O’Hara, McAlorum (McNamee, 80), Henderson, Bradley, Murray, McAllister, McVeigh
Subs not used: Glenholmes, Fay, Muir, Lynch
Referee: Kevin Azzopardi (Malta)
The Swifts committee met on Tuesday 11th October and proposed that former 1st Team Manager and General Manager, Joe McAree, become the new Chairman of Dungannon Swifts F.C. Joe agreed to take up the role of Chairman, a position that has been vacant now for a number of weeks. Past Chairman Jarlath Faloon has also stepped in to fill the Vice Chairman’s seat.
Both Joe and Jarlath are big Swifts club men through and through. Joe in particular is no stranger to everyone in Irish League footballing circles having taken the first team from the old ‘B’ Division into the Irish Premier League.
Speaking to us about his appointment as Chairman, Joe McAree told us “When I was asked to be Chairman, I couldn’t possibly have said no, I couldn’t turn my back on many friends at the Club, and on a Club that I love so dearly. I will do my best and hopefully that will be good enough. I will need everyone to give me their backing and I mean, everybody, we will work together as a team both on and off the field for the good of Dungannon Swifts F.C.”.
Everyone at Dungannon Swifts is delighted to have Joe as our new chairman and Jarlath as Vice Chairman.
Chris Scannell was the man with the X Factor as his double helped Cliftonville to a comprehensive victory over struggling Dungannon Swifts.
But for Dixie Robinson it is more a case of the fear factor after the prospect of a first victory against the Reds was crushed in North Belfast.
Cliftonville are the only side that Dungannon have yet to beat since Robinson took charge in April 2009, and this result ensures that dismal run goes on – at least until Wednesday night when the teams meet again, this time in the League Cup.
But while the record books will show a not-so-magnificent seventh straight defeat in this fixture, the result does not tell the full story of the game.
The sides were level for 74 minutes after Michael Ward cancelled out Scannell’s early strike.
But then Scannell struck for the second time, stretching his league tally to seven goals when he capitalised on a slip-up in the Swifts’ back line.
Later efforts from Rory Donnelly and Joe Gormley added gloss to a Cliftonville victory which was nowhere near as emphatic as the score suggests.
Now the sides meet for a second time this week, when Robinson will hope to finally banish his winless run in this fixture.
Yet the cup is somewhat down the priority list, with the Dungannon boss surely more concerned about Swifts’ struggles in the league.
This result leaves them second bottom, while breathing fresh impetus into Cliftonville’s title hopes after a dismal run from Tommy Breslin’s men.
Just a month ago the Reds had been third in the table, but a disappointing tally of one point from four games had seen them slide to seventh.
And Dungannon could have added to their woes through Stefan Lavery, whose blistering strike forced a fingertip save from the goalkeeper inside the first minute.
A positive start by both teams then saw Cliftonville take a sixth minute lead.
Niall Morgan failed to clear a Stephen Garrett corner, and the ball dropped for Scannell who adjusted his feet before dispatching a left-foot strike into the net.
Yet that early setback failed to dampen Dungannon’s morale and Johnny Montgomery forced Ryan Brown into action again with a 30-yard free-kick.
Morgan then denied Scannell a second, using his feet to block an effort, before Ward drew Dungannon level in the 36th minute.
It followed more good work from Lavery, who delivered a perfect cross from the right wing, with Ward powering a diving header past the ‘keeper.
Terry Fitzpatrick’s effort rattled the crossbar and then Darren Murphy shot wide as Dungannon finished the half in positive fashion.
But similar to the previous weekend’s match at Ballymena, Swifts were unable to sustain that promising play into the second period.
Instead Cliftonville showed a greater sense of purpose with George McMullan and then Scannell forcing efforts on the visitors’ goal.
And Scannell gave them the lead for a second time with 16 minutes remaining.
He chased after a header from Barry Johnston and, when the defence failed to deal with the danger, was perfectly placed to tap home.
And as Dungannon pressed for a late equaliser, Cliftonville snatched a third on the break as Donnelly converted Johnston’s cross.
And in the final minute substitute Gormley made his mark on the game, his long-range strike flashing past Morgan to make it four.
CLIFTONVILLE: Brown, Johnston, Donaghy, McMullan, Scannell (Gormley, 89), Garrett (Steele, 69), Smyth, R Donnelly, Seydak, Catney, McVeigh
Subs not used: Holland, Convery, Stuart
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, O’Neill, Montgomery, McCaffrey, McClean, Funston (C Forker, 81), Fitzpatrick, Murphy (McGerrigan, 52), Lavery, Ward, McCready (Campbell, 70)
Subs not used: A Forker, McAree
Referee: Mark Courtney (Dungannon)