Supporters bus will be leaving Stangmore Park at 6.15pm Sharp.There are limited spaces so please let us know if you wish to attend on the bus as soon as possible. Let’s get out and get behind the team. 
NORTHERN Ireland will take on England on Friday night in the Sky Sports Victory Shield at Stangmore Park, Dungannon, kick-off: 7.00pm.
Stephen Robinson’s side kicked off their Victory Shield Campaign last Friday night with a 2-1 win away to Scotland, while England lost 1-0 to Wales.
Robinson said: “the boy’s done really well on Friday night against Scotland, they took on a lot of information that we have been trying to pass to them, they showed a lot of courage and showed a lot of quality on the ball at times.”
“It’s a super game, obviously England have a talented bunch of players as they always do and he (England Manager Steve Cooper) has made a lot changes as they have the ability to do that, so it will be a great game for us, but we have set ourselves up nicely and we want the boys to go out and express themselves and not feel under too much pressure.”
The Northern Ireland Schools’ Football Association is offering free entrance to any school or youth group wishing to attend the games against England or Wales. Any group wishing to gain free entrance should send their details by email to Edwin Ferris, NISFA Treasurer: edwinferris@yahoo.co.uk to obtain a group permit.
Darren Murphy had been doing the Sober for October charity challenge, but at least he can now drown his sorrows over his team’s struggles.
He was left with the increasingly familiar sense of frustration as Dungannon crashed to an eighth defeat of the campaign.
But while Swifts’ form may push Murphy off the wagon, Cliftonville supporters can raise a toast of seven-up as their side maintained their superb run.
This was the champions’ seventh straight win in all competitions, taking them two points clear at the top of the table.
Unfortunately for Dungannon, it was easier than it should have been for Tommy Breslin’s side.
The three goals were the result of errors and, in Joe Gormley and Tomas Cosgrove, Cliftonville had players capable of taking full advantage.
Gormley put them ahead inside six minutes with a close-range finish after some dazzling approach play from the impressive Cosgrove.
After Matt Hazley’s sublime effort had briefly restored parity, Gormley then put the Reds back in front from the penalty spot.
A game characterised by some smashing goals was then settled when Cosgrove sprinted more than 40 yards before firing home the third.
This defeat means Swifts have now failed to win any of their last 24 league games against Cliftonville.
Ominously, they must confront the weight of history again this weekend when they visit Linfield, where their record is also dismal.
These are not games which Swifts would generally expect to profit from.
However, given their current plight – second bottom and with just one win all season – they head to Windsor Park under real pressure.
Aside from the poor defending, Murphy will also rue the chances his side spurned.
It is a toxic mix at both ends of the pitch which threatens the prospect of extending their proud run in the top division to a 13th season.
The form book was against Dungannon before a ball was kicked, and a tough task became even more difficult when Cliftonville seized an early lead.
Cosgrove’s run took him past two defenders before he fed the ball through to Gormley, who scored with a right-foot, near post finish.
However, Dungannon were quickly back on level terms.
Fra Brennan pumped a cross into the box, the ball was cleared only as far as Hazley, who curled home a sublime first-time effort.
But Dungannon’s defensive frailties emerged again, gifting Cliftonville the chance to retake the lead.
Cameron Grieve was penalised for a clumsy challenge on Martin Donnelly and Gormley converted the resulting spot kick, driving his penalty low and hard into the bottom corner.
The home side had chances either side of the break, both falling to Stefan Lavery.
He steered the first just wide from close range, before taking a pass from Ryan Harpur and rattling the crossbar with his second.
With an hour played Dungannon summoned Gary Liggett from the bench to bolster their attack.
But their plans were in tatters moments later when Cliftonville scored a third.
This time it was all Cosgrove’s own work. He took the ball, dashed past three players before hammering home a right-footed finish.
It was a stunning goal – and it gave Cliftonville some much needed breathing space, which became all the more important when they lost Ryan Catney 19 minutes from time.
The midfielder, already booked early in the first half, was sent off for a second yellow.
However, Dungannon struggled to make their man advantage tell.
Their best chances fell to Brennan. His header was cleared off the line by Donnelly, before he drilled a low strike just wide of the target.
DGN SWIFTS: Rouse, Grieve, McCaffrey, Armstrong, Brennan, Sanusi (Tomelty, 68), Harpur (McCullough, 79), Hazley (Liggett, 64), Glackin, Wilson, S Lavery
Subs not used: Douglas, Hutchinson
CLIFTONVILLE: Devlin, McGovern, Scannell, Flynn, Curran (Mulvenna, 89), Donnelly, Catney, Cosgrove, Winchester, Gormley, McDaid (Johnston, 73)
Subs not used: McMullan, Knowles, Smyth
Referee: Raymond Hetherington (Dungannon)
From www.irishfa.com
Extra time was needed to decide “Tie of 2nd Round” in the Harry Cavan Youth Cup, as Dungannon Swifts Youth defeated Cliftonville Strollers in a six goal thriller.
Today’s “Tie of the 2nd round of the Harry Cavan Youth Cup was a competitive match right from the kick off.
Both sides started sprightly and it took 20 mins for the 1st goal to be scored by Matthew Dempster with a long range effort that beat the Dungannon keeper and seemed to settle Cliftonville.
The 30th min saw a close range shot from Dungannons Mark Rankin found the back of the net and 2 mins later it was Dungannon who struck again when Paul Lowe again beat the Cliftonville keeper at close range.
Both Sides had further chances but went in at half time for a well earned break.
Half Time:Cliftonville Strollers 1-2 Dungannon Swifts Youth
The game had to wait to the 85th min for the next goal which saw the home side draw level with Matthew Demptsters 2nd and no mater how hard both sides tried the 90 mins passed and we were into extra time.
Full Time:Cliftonville Strollers 2-2 Dungannon Swifts Youth
Extra time was 8 mins old when Dungannons Tommy Turley scored and 2 mins later Dungannon rapped the game up with a penalty easily converted by Adam McCrea and this saw them through to the 3rd round draw.
Today’s ” Man of the Match” was chosen by Jeff Higgins of the IFA Junior and Youth Committee and was presented to Conor Mullen of Dungannon Youth Swifts.
Dungannon Swifts remain locked on just one league victory all season after Institute battled back for a share of the points at Drumahoe.
Just as he did in the sides’ previous meeting on the first weekend, Stephen O’Flynn hit the equaliser to frustrate Dungannon.
It leaves the Tyrone side still second bottom of the table, although they have moved a point ahead of basement club Warrenpoint Town.
Ryan Harpur had put the visitors ahead with an early header.
However, a tactical switch changed the course of the match as Institute took charge in the second period, levelling through O’Flynn.
Dungannon could have won it late on, but substitute Jamie Douglas was denied.
It was another missed chance, both in the context of this game and Swifts’ season.
Darren Murphy later said he felt a draw was the correct result.
However, Swifts have now gone 11 league games without a victory and, with Cliftonville and Linfield next up, it is hard to see when that run is going to end.
In a lacklustre first half, Dungannon took the lead after 15 minutes.
Matt Hazley received a throw, dashed past two defenders and clipped a left-foot cross into the box, where Harpur headed home from close range.
However, any fans hoping the early goal would set the tone for an entertaining first half were left disappointed.
Both sides struggled to create anything of note in a poor quality 45 minutes.
The other main chance came just before the break when an Aaron Walsh free-kick was turned over by goalkeeper Alvin Rouse.
Institute, seeking a second successive league win, had been disappointing but a tactical change from manager Paul Kee proved crucial.
He switched to a 4-4-2 formation at the break, leading to a more open match in the second half.
They almost levelled when a Walsh free-kick was met by Graeme Crown, but Dermot McCaffrey made an important block.
Institute went close for a second time, again from a Walsh free-kick. His delivery was knocked on for Mark Scoltock, whose eye-catching overhead kick was matched by a fine fingertip save by Rouse.
Dungannon threatened via Fra Brennan, whose low strike forced goalkeeper Eugene Ferry into a decent stop.
However, most of the pressure was coming from the home side, and they levelled in the 72nd minute.
A fluent move on the left side ended with substitute Dean Curry supplying a cross and O’Flynn fired home with a first-time effort from 12 yards.
It was a strike of real quality, giving Rouse little chance to make a save.
Dungannon could have stolen the points in the final stages.
A stray back-pass from Walsh, under pressure from Harpur, fell perfectly for Douglas, but Ferry produced a match-saving block.
INSTITUTE: Ferry, O’Donnell, Scoltock, Crown, Varma (Curry, 46), Walsh, Forker, McManus, Burke, O’Flynn, McVeigh (McIntyre, 63)
Subs not used: Henderson, Young, Gallagher
DGN SWIFTS: Rouse, Brennan, McCaffrey, Armstrong, Grieve, Glackin (Liggett, 78), Wilson, Hutchinson, Hazley, Sanusi (Douglas, 63), Harpur
Subs not used: Tomelty, Burns, McCullough
Referee: Keith Kennedy (Lisburn)
A point gained or two dropped? Not for the first time this season fans were left with mixed emotions as a late equaliser denied Dungannon Swifts.
This was a match Dungannon should have won but could easily have lost.
In one of the games of the season to date, they appeared on course for a rare league victory after coming from behind to lead Ballymena.
However, a late equaliser from substitute Ally Teggart saw the home team rescue a point.
The draw, a creditable result away to an improving Ballymena side, was enough to move Dungannon off the bottom, albeit only on goal difference.
After a drab first half, marked only by Allan Jenkins’ goal two minutes before the break, the game came alive in the second period.
Abby Sanusi equalised 30 seconds after the restart with a superb individual strike, before laying the second on a plate for substitute Gary Liggett.
A bit more composure and quality in front of goal would have brought the points-clinching third.
Instead, the dismissal of Sanusi eight minutes from the end was the impetus for a late Ballymena charge, beginning with Teggart’s equaliser.
In a breathless finish, the home side spurned two inviting chances while Liggett also failed to convert when clean through in the final moments.
Darren Murphy seemed content with a draw, which is understandable given Swifts’ precarious position in the table.
By contrast Ballymena boss Glenn Ferguson was relieved, claiming his side had “stolen” a point after a poor performance.
Dungannon could have gone ahead in the 20th minute when Matt Hazley threaded a pass through to Sanusi – the game’s standout player – but his strike was blocked.
At the other end David Cushley caught everyone out by slipping his free-kick to Darren Boyce, who dashed in behind the visitors’ defence but shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Ryan Harpur made his first league appearance after almost two months out, and was perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch.
Already booked for a challenge on Cushley, he was involved in two fouls shortly afterwards which could have resulted in a second yellow.
Jenkins’ goal just before half-time helped quell the home crowd’s ire at his continued presence.
A free-kick was headed on and Matthew Tipton’s clever back-heel found Jenkins, who controlled before firing home with a left-foot effort.
It was a huge blow to Dungannon – and at a crucial time in the game – but they equalised immediately after the restart.
Sanusi took a pass from Jamie Douglas before letting fly with a left-footed half-volley from 25 yards.
Dungannon had a great chance to go in front when Douglas set up David McCullough, but his effort was cleared off the line by Stephen McBride.
Andy Coleman pulled off a tremendous save to keep out Jenkins’ header, before the visitors took the lead.
Sanusi was the architect, pulling the ball across goal for Liggett who came sliding in to convert with a simple left-foot prod.
However, the winger’s afternoon ended early when he received a second booking.
Ballymena took full advantage, drawing level two minutes later. Tony Kane’s long-range pass was headed on for Teggart, whose effort was deflected in by David Armstrong.
The home side pushed for a winner, and Tipton rattled the woodwork with an angled drive.
Tipton then turned provider for Boyce but, eight yards out and with the game at stake, the striker totally missed his kick.
In a crazy finish, Cameron Grieve thumped the ball clear – but it turned into a perfect pass for Liggett. He ran clear of everyone, only to fire straight at the goalkeeper.
BALLYMENA UTD: Nelson, Kane, Stewart, Taylor, McBride (Teggart, 80), Gawley, Thompson (Taggart, 68), Jenkins, Cushley, Tipton, Boyce
Subs not used: Ruddy, Surgenor, McVey
DGN SWIFTS: Coleman, Burns, Armstrong, McCaffrey, Grieve, McCullough, Harpur (Glackin, 46, Brennan, 80), Hazley, Fitzpatrick, Sanusi, Douglas (Liggett, 64)
Subs not used: Barton, Mitchell
Referee: John Deighan (Limavady)
