by DSFC Media | Oct 19, 2013 | Uncategorized
It may be a new season but some things never change. Linfield are top of the table and Dungannon Swifts’ dismal run at Windsor Park continues.
In 10 years as a Premiership force Dungannon have never won a league game at the international stadium.
And they are still waiting for that first elusive victory after Andy Waterworth’s double secured another three points for the Blues.
It seems hard to believe that a few weeks ago Linfield were bottom of the table with David Jeffrey under serious pressure.
Seven straight league wins later and the Blues are back on top, four points clear and looking good to wrestle back the Gibson Cup.
It took 40 minutes to find a gap in the Swifts’ defence, but once Waterworth broke the deadlock the Blues rarely looked in trouble.
Waterworth added a second just before the hour mark to all but wrap up the points.
It was a frustrating afternoon for Dungannon who, although largely written off ahead of kick-off, will still be disappointed with aspects of their performance.
Both Linfield’s goals came from lapses in concentration while the visitors struggled to impose themselves on the game at times.
Fans were left wondering whether, with a bit more belief and adventure, Dungannon could have caused more of a threat to the Blues.
The game had kicked off 45 minutes late because of a security alert on the M1, but the first half was definitely not one-way traffic.
Dungannon created the game’s first chance when Stephen Doyle’s cross was cleared to Terry Fitzpatrick, and his right-foot half-volley flashed narrowly over.
Linfield threatened when Matthew Tipton slipped the ball to Philip Lowry and, after he had been closed down, the ball broke to Niall Quinn who tested the goalkeeper with a firm, low drive.
Dungannon went close again in the 34th minute with the goalkeeper using both hands to push Johnny Topley’s free-kick clear of danger.
A one-two between Matt Hazley and Jamie Douglas ended with a cross-shot from the latter, with Doyle unable to get a touch as the ball passed the back post.
It was a real chance – and Swifts were made to pay just four minutes later.
Lowry broke down the right flank and crossed to Tipton. His shot was blocked by Fra Brennan but Waterworth reacted fastest to tap home.
It was unfortunate for goalkeeper Gareth Buchanan, who got a foot to the shot, but Murphy will question why Waterworth had been first onto the loose ball.
Linfield thought they had doubled their lead after half-time when Lowry slotted home after Waterworth’s shot came back off the post – but it was ruled out for offside.
Dungannon made a double change by bringing on Chris Lavery and Grant Hutchinson – but their plans were in tatters within 60 seconds.
Good approach play from Tipton saw him get past two defenders and cross to the back post, where Waterworth was left free to head home.
Dungannon needed something quickly– and they nearly got it. A corner from Lavery was cleared to Hazley, but his low drive was well blocked by the goalkeeper.
Then a powerful left-foot drive from Topley crashed just over the crossbar.
The final 20 minutes saw Linfield seize back control and they had several efforts on target, albeit none of them seriously troubled the goalkeeper.
LINFIELD: Tuffey, McVey (Glendinning, 86), Gault, Waterworth, Lowry, Carvill, BJ Burns, Ward, Tipton (McAllister, 68), Mulgrew, Quinn
Subs not used: A Burns, Knowles, McCaul
DGN SWIFTS: Buchanan, McKerr, Copeland, Brennan, Topley, Fitzpatrick, Harpur, Doyle (C Lavery, 57), Hazley, Glackin (Hutchinson, 57), Douglas (Lowe, 74)
Subs not used: Mulgrew, McCullough
Referee: Mervyn Smyth (Belfast)
by DSFC Media | Oct 7, 2013 | Uncategorized
A poor performance contributed to the sense of frustration as Dungannon Swifts slumped to their third defeat of the season at Glentoran.
Mark Miskimmin was the match-winner with a second half header as the Glens secured their first win in five games.
But it was a disappointing afternoon for Dungannon, made worse by a lacklustre display which failed to seriously exploit the growing unease gripping the Oval.
Dungannon started poorly, falling behind after nine minutes. Although they equalised through Jamie Douglas, they were second best for most of the afternoon.
Gareth Buchanan made several good saves to keep the score level before Miskimmin finally applied a cutting edge to the Glens’ play.
In the end it could have been even more convincing.
Jason Hill missed a late penalty on his 300th Glentoran appearance before somehow firing wide of an open goal in stoppage time.
This was Dungannon’s third defeat of the season, having previously lost at Ballymena and Portadown.
While failures at the Oval or Shamrock Park are no disgrace, in both cases fans left knowing Swifts could have taken something if they had produced a better performance.
Dungannon had arrived in expectation rather than hope, but it took just nine minutes for that optimism to be dashed.
Miskimmin delivered a searching cross which the goalkeeper perhaps should have claimed, and Marcus Kane beat Shane Mulgrew to the ball to head home from close range.
Dungannon were handed another warning minutes later. Jay Magee was first to Stephen McAlorum’s corner but glanced his header just wide.
But they levelled in the 17thminute with a goal almost identical to the Glens’ opener.
Darren Boyce was the architect, sending over a cross from the right flank and Douglas edged out Mark Clarke to head the equaliser.
However, it was Boyce’s last act on his return to the Oval, with the former Glens striker departing soon afterwards with an injury.
Glentoran’s two Clarkes both went close with efforts from distance.
A powerful 25-yard drive by Mark Clarke was deflected fractionally wide, before namesake Richard worked the goalkeeper from outside the box.
But their best chance of a goal came in the 30th minute.
Ryan O’Neill teed up Kane and his shot was blocked by Fra Brennan. The ball broke to Richard Clarke but he was denied by the goalkeeper.
They went close again when the ball was slipped through to Jim O’Hanlon, but he placed a low shot the wrong side of the far post.
Dungannon had chances either side of the interval without seriously troubling Elliott Morris.
Matt Hazley, making his first start since August, failed with an ambitious effort while Stefan Lavery couldn’t take advantage of Michael McKerr’s cross.
But Glentoran carried the greater threat and finally found a way through in the 55th minute.
Richard Clarke played the ball out wide to Hill on the left, and Miskimmin got between Brennan and Dermot McCaffrey to head home his cross.
The Glens should have added to their lead in the closing stages.
A free-kick from McAlorum picked out Jimmy Callacher but the former Swifts midfielder saw his header come back off the crossbar.
They were also awarded a penalty when Jordan Stewart was tripped by McCaffrey. However, Buchanan added to an already impressive performance by guessing correctly and saving the kick.
But their best chance came in stoppage time. Buchanan went forward for a free-kick and, when it broke down, Glentoran countered with Hill somehow shooting wide of the open goal.
GLENTORAN: Morris, O’Neill, Kane, R Clarke, Addis, Magee (Hill, 29), Callacher, O’Hanlon (McGuigan, 89), McAlorum, M Clarke, Miskimmin (Stewart, 75)
Subs not used: Bradley, Henderson
DGN SWIFTS: Buchanan, McKerr (Hutchinson, 57), Brennan, McCaffrey, Mulgrew, Harpur, Hazley (Doyle, 75), Fitzpatrick, McCullough, Boyce (S Lavery, 22), Douglas
Subs not used: Copeland, Glackin
Referee: Ross Dunlop (Carrick)
by DSFC Media | Sep 30, 2013 | Uncategorized
The champions were held at Stangmore Park as Dungannon Swifts successfully navigated arguably their toughest test of the season to date.
Another goal from Darren Boyce – his fourth in six games – secured a hard-fought but well deserved draw against Cliftonville.
Some 51 points separated these sides in the table last term but the supposed gulf in quality wasn’t evident in a game which Dungannon could have won.
They hit the crossbar early on via Jamie Douglas, while Boyce thought he’d won it with a late strike which flashed inches wide.
Cliftonville boss Tommy Breslin later branded his side’s performance as unacceptable.
It was perhaps a little harsh with the visitors recovering from a slow start to force several excellent saves from the Dungannon goalkeeper
Liam Boyce rattled the crossbar while Martin Donnelly could have nicked it when played through right at the death.
Overall, however, Dungannon were the better side for most of the game.
They had a sharper edge to their play, using the ball intelligently through midfield and down the channels, while defending solidly at the back.
The one disappointment will be a suspected hamstring injury to Cameron Grieve, which leaves him doubtful for the upcoming double-header against Glentoran and Linfield.
Both fixtures will be another big test of a fast-improving Dungannon side but, on this evidence, they are not games which should be feared.
Swifts threatened from the first whistle, almost taking a second minute lead.
Boyce crossed to Douglas but his close-range header struck the crossbar. The ball dropped for Shane Mulgrew, albeit his effort was straight at the goalkeeper.
Dungannon threatened again in the 16th minute following more good approach play from Boyce. He drifted out wide to collect a pass and crossed to Ryan Harpur, who turned well but sent his effort narrowly over.
The visitors’ first chance came via Donnelly’s corner, but Joe McNeill’s header was aimed straight at Gareth Buchanan.
Their best effort, however, came in the 21st minute, with the goalkeeper stretching out a glove to tip Liam Boyce’s terrific free-kick onto the crossbar.
Cliftonville were forced into a reshuffle following an injury to Jamie McGovern, but that aside there were signs the Reds were offering more of a threat.
First a free-kick from Donnelly looked to be creeping towards the bottom corner but Buchanan managed to tip it wide.
Then some clever footwork by Boyce took him through the home defence. However, his finish failed to match the impressive build-up, with the goalkeeper making a simple block.
The Reds carried the greater threat at the outset of the second period as well.
After Donnelly was closed out by Michael McKerr, the ball broke to Gormley but he was splendidly denied by the left hand of Buchanan.
The same two combined moments later, Gormley allowing a Stephen Garrett cross to reach Donnelly, but he was denied by the goalkeeper’s leg.
Cliftonville were growing in confidence – but then Dungannon struck.
Matt Hazley’s free-kick was needlessly parried by Conor Devlin, and Boyce bravely forced home the loose ball with a diving header.
But the lead lasted just eight minutes as Liam Boyce’s set-piece was deflected to Caldwell. His first effort struck McKerr but his second found the net.
A breathless finish saw both sides almost snatch a winner.
Darren Boyce latched on to a long Hazley pass but sent a fierce left-footed drive inches wide of the back post.
Then in stoppage time Martin Murray headed the ball on for Donnelly but he fired wide with the goal – and the victory – in his grasp.
DGN SWIFTS: Buchanan, McKerr, Brennan, McCaffrey, Grieve, McCullough (Hutchinson, 82), Fitzpatrick, Harpur, Mulgrew (Hazley, 61), Douglas (S Lavery, 66), Boyce
Subs not used: Copeland, Doyle
CLIFTONVILLE: Devlin, McGovern (Caldwell, 37), Scannell, Johnston, McNally, Garrett, Donnelly, McNeill (Curran, 61), Gormley (Murray, 86), Cosgrove, Boyce
Subs not used: McMullan, O’Carroll
Referee: Tim Marshall (Irvinestown)
by DSFC Media | Sep 29, 2013 | Uncategorized
Since the start of the current league campaign we have been under the guidance of a new Chairman Mr Paul McCabe, taking over from the outgoing Joe McAree who stepped down as Chairman in the off season.
We would like to take this opportunity to go on record and thank Joe for all the work he carried out as Chairman of Dungannon Swifts while also fulfilling the same position at Dungannon United Youth. Joe remains on the committee at Stangmore Park as our Community Relations officer and we look forward to working with him in this position. Now is your chance to meet the new man steering the ship from the boardroom side of things. We spoke to Paul during the week and he decided to tell us a little bit about himself for you all to become a little more familiar with him…
I just want to introduce myself to you as the new Chairman of Dungannon Swifts Football Club. I have always had a passion for football and have been a supporter of the Swifts for a long time.
I was born in Ballygawley and as a young lad I remember kicking football with my friends at a time when having a pair of boots was considered a luxury – how times have changed! My interest in football was fostered from my father, – a lifetime Manchester United fan, but don’t hold that against him! My parents lived in Manchester shortly after they were married and when my father was living there he was a regular at Old Trafford. Eventually, they moved back home to Ballygawley and then I came along, but as soon as I was able to walk I had to listen to his love for the Busby Babes. Not surprisingly I inherited his love for United, but the most influential player in my life was George Best, the Manchester United and Northern Ireland star.
I started work as a teacher in Dungannon Further Education College and when I was there my interest in Dungannon Swifts began and I regularly went to see them play. However, my work took me from Dungannon to another teaching post in Omagh, where I now live. This made it more difficult for me to attend matches but I never lost my interest in the Swifts football team progression.
In recent years, I rejuvenated my support for the club, and I have been a regular follower at their games. At that point, I was pleased to have been invited to become a member of the club Committee and have thoroughly enjoyed the wider involvement in the running of the club.
‘Swiftly’ (pardon the pun!) I found myself elevated to Chairman which has been a privileged and rewarding task past on to me by Mr Joe McAree, the outgoing Chairman. At this point, I would like to acknowledge all the work and achievements that Joe has brought to the Dungannon Swifts Football Club.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the encouraging work of the Committee, players, management and all those who work for the success of the club, and last but not least, each and every one of our supporters. Go Swifts!
Best Wishes
Paul.
by DSFC Media | Sep 29, 2013 | Uncategorized
It may be a new season but some things never change. Linfield are top of the table and Dungannon Swifts’ dismal run at Windsor Park continues.
