Mid Ulster Cup
On Tuesday night (1st November ) Dungannon Swifts entertain Warrenpoint Town in the Mid Ulster Cup.
K.O. 7.45pm
Congratulations to Darren Murphy who was awarded the Supporters Club Player of the Month for September.
James and Adam are pictured presenting him with his award.
Dungannon Swifts 0-5 Glentoran
A five-star Glentoran demolished Dungannon Swifts and sent them crashing to their heaviest defeat of the season on a miserable afternoon at Stangmore Park. The struggling Tyrone side were handed a harsh lesson in ruthless attacking play as the Glens breathed new life into their stuttering title challenge.
Two goals from Ciaran Martyn, another for Gary Hamilton and late strikes from Andrew Waterworth and Darren Boyce wrapped up a second successive five-goal victory. It lifts Glentoran to fourth in the table, and within eight points of leaders Linfield. But for Dungannon it is an altogether different story, after another sobering defeat which leaves them still perilously close to the bottom.
They were unfortunate to trail at the interval to Martyn’s header, but a second goal for Hamilton early in the second half shattered their morale. Already this season is rapidly shaping up to be the most difficult of Dixie Robinson’s tenure as manager, with Dungannon facing a grim fight for Premiership survival. This was a game Robinson would not have expected to profit from, but the final result will do little to improve morale among the players. And nor do things get any easier, with a daunting trip to Windsor Park next on the agenda.
There were positives to draw on, however, including a fearless performance from Stefan Lavery. The teenager was a real threat in a first half performance which Dungannon, despite trailing to Martyn’s 16th minute effort, would have been highly satisfied with. Martyn displayed a fleeting movement to escape his marker and a deft touch to turn home Hamilton’s corner for his fourth goal of the season. But it was not a one-sided story with Lavery spurning two glorious chances either side of the goal. The first came via a clever touch from Johnny Topley, but the striker dragged the ball wide of the target. His next chance was even more inviting. The Glens’ defence failed to cut out a searching pass from Dermot McCaffrey but Lavery’s strike was blocked by the ‘keeper’s legs. Later Topley drew another fine save from Elliott Morris. Taking a pass from Ryan Mullan, he turned and hit a rising effort which was parried away.
Glentoran also showed they were capable of adding to their lead. A cross from Stephen Carson reached Jim O’Hanlon, he looked to steer a shot into the far corner but saw his low effort come back off the upright. Dungannon again went close in the early stages of the second half, Johnny Montgomery heading a corner from Shea McGerrigan just wide. But then Hamilton doubled Glentoran’s lead with a goal which typified the quality and predatory skills which have terrorised defences for years. Carson advanced down the left side and delivered a cross to the back post, where Hamilton arrived just in time to volley into the top corner. It boosted Glentoran’s confidence, and they began pouring men forward in search of a third. Niall Morgan denied Hamilton with his legs, before McCaffrey came to Dungannon’s rescue by clearing David Howland’s strike off the line.
Sandwiched between those was an opportunity for Craig McClean, but his close-range shot was parried around the post by the Glens ‘keeper. Yet the game was now slipping quickly from Dungannon, and any hopes of a comeback were ended when Waterworth added the third. The ball broke kindly for Carson who carried it forward before picking out the substitute, and he netted with his first touch since entering the action. Carson was also the architect for their fourth goal, once more finding space down the left against a tiring Swifts defence before switching the ball for Boyce to convert. The fifth came in stoppage time, Boyce squaring for Martyn to knock home.
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, Mullan, McMinn (Montgomery, 11), McCaffrey, McClean, McGerrigan (Campbell, 67), McCluskey, Fitzpatrick, Murphy (McCready, 67), S Lavery, Topley Subs not used: Funston, Baldwin
GLENTORAN: Morris, Nixon, Martyn, Ward, Howland (Clarke, 81), Carson, Hamilton, Gibson (Boyce, 83), Hill, Callacher, O’Hanlon (Waterworth, 65) Subs not used: Taylor, Hogg
Referee: Mervyn Smyth (Belfast)
Live on Sky!
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.
Fixture Change
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.
