Glenavon 1-3 Dungannon Swifts

by DSFC Media | Nov 30, 2013 | Uncategorized

Dungannon Swifts produced their best performance of the season so far to claim a third successive victory against Mid-Ulster rivals Glenavon.

A hat-trick from Darren Boyce – which included two penalties – was the key factor in this hugely impressive win at Mourneview Park.

It takes Boyce’s tally for the season so far to 12 goals in 14 appearances.

And while the striker will deservedly grab the headlines for his treble, it was a superb all-round team performance.

So good was Dungannon’s display that a talented and expensively-assembled Glenavon side were made to look quite ordinary.

Their use of the ball was measured and intelligent, allowing the front pairing of Boyce and Jamie Douglas to exploit huge gaps in the home back line.

Chris Lavery’s pace and direct running caused real problems, with the midfielder’s work-rate and defensive graft complementing an eye-catching performance.

Douglas was again outstanding and, only for the hat-trick by his strike partner, would have been most people’s pick for man of the match.

But it was a night to forget for Glenavon who, after such a promising start to the campaign, are now starting to slide back down the table.

Much of their problems on Friday evening were of their own doing, with a high defensive line being exploited time and again by the visitors’ attack.

The opening goal after 10 minutes set the tone for the night ahead.

A long kick-out from Niall Morgan sliced through the defence, ricocheting off Gareth McKeown and falling perfectly for Boyce to fire home.

It was a dreadful goal to concede at any level of the game, but it summed up an error-strewn performance from Glenavon.

They had a rare chance early in the game. The ball was played inside to Guy Bates, but his strike was brilliantly tipped over by the goalkeeper.

Instead, Dungannon continued to threaten and doubled their lead in the 26^th minute.

Rhys Marshall was penalised for pushing Douglas inside the box, resulting in a penalty.

With Matt Hazley suspended, Boyce was back on spot-kick duties, and powered a right-foot effort into the roof of the net.

In the sides’ last meeting in August, Glenavon had overturned a two-goal deficit but they rarely looked like repeating that feat on Friday.

Indeed, it was Dungannon who threatened to add to the score.

Another long goal-kick caused more defensive confusion, finding its way to Boyce whose attempted lob landed just wide of the target.

Soon afterwards a Dermot McCaffrey free-kick found Johnny Topley, but his header grazed the far post with John Connolly beaten.

Then just before the break Lavery’s cross fell to David McCullough, however, his close-range strike was smothered by the goalkeeper.

Dungannon boss Darren Murphy must have wondered whether his side might regret not killing off the game in the first half.

But they continued to dominate after half-time, and not even the introduction of player-manager Gary Hamilton could rouse Glenavon.

The home side struggled to land efforts on goal. David Rainey had a rare chance, but his 25-yard blast was straight at Morgan.

Instead Swifts continued to threaten, and a better first touch from Lavery in front of goal would surely have seen him convert a neat Douglas pass.

The game was over as a contest when Dungannon scored a third in the 72^nd minute.

Boyce was fouled by the goalkeeper but recovered to take the resulting penalty, directing his kick into the bottom left-hand corner.

Chris Lavery and substitute Stefan Lavery had chances to stretch the lead, but both of their efforts flashed narrowly wide of the back post.

The only positive on a miserable night for Glenavon came four minutes from time.

Shane McCabe fed Hamilton and, after flicking the ball over Adam McMinn, the striker scored a superb volley.

It was the goal of the night but it had come far too late, with Hamilton’s strike proving the merest of consolations for Glenavon.

GLENAVON: Connolly, McCallion, Murphy, Neill, Bates, Rainey, Patton (McGrory, 70), Marshall (Lindsay, 63), McKeown (Hamilton, 53), McCabe, Martyn

Subs not used: McAlveen, Hoey

DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, Brennan, Grieve, McCaffrey, McMinn, McCullough, Hutchinson, Topley, C Lavery, Boyce (S Lavery, 80), Douglas (Costello, 89)

Subs not used: Fitzpatrick, Glackin, Harpur

Referee: Ian McNabb (Newtownabbey)

Free Entry for Primary School Children

by DSFC Media | Nov 29, 2013 | Uncategorized

All primary school children who are accompanied by a paying adult will be admitted FREE to our fixture v Glenavon at Mourneview Park on Friday 29th November.

Thanks to Glenavon FC for this great offer.

Ards 2-3 Dungannon Swifts

by DSFC Media | Nov 28, 2013 | Uncategorized

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 18^th 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 71^st 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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Dungannon Swifts 1-0 Linfield

by DSFC Media | Nov 17, 2013 | Uncategorized

It was unlucky 13 for Linfield as Dungannon Swifts upset the odds to bring the Blues’ 12-game unbeaten Premiership run to a shuddering halt.

The form book was turned on its head at Stangmore Park where Dungannon, without a win in seven matches, stunned the league leaders.

A first half goal from Jamie Douglas proved the difference as Swifts claimed only their third ever Premiership victory against David Jeffrey’s side.

And no-one could argue with the outcome, least of all the Linfield manager, after his side were outplayed for large periods of the game.

The Blues had not lost in the league since a 2-0 defeat at Crusaders in August, and would have expected to stretch that run to 13 games against Dungannon.

But they rarely looked like turning this match around once Douglas scored.

Swifts boss Darren Murphy made four changes to his side, including a full debut for teenager Kris Lowe, and got the reaction he wanted.

They produced one of their best performances in recent memory to halt the Blues’ juggernaut and claim their first league victory since September.

While Douglas will grab the headlines with his winning strike, this was a highly impressive all-round team performance.

An assured defensive display, led by the outstanding Dermot McCaffrey and supported by the midfield four, provided the platform.

The only goal came in the 37^thminute, with Dungannon finally benefitting from some long overdue good fortune.

Cameron Grieve started a counter-attack with the ball finding its way forward via Matt Hazley and then Johnny Topley. It eventually reached Douglas whose effort deflected off Kyle McVey, taking it over the goalkeeper and into the net.

Prior to that, the best chance of a first half short on clear chances had fallen to Linfield.

Jim Ervin slipped a pass inside to Brian McCaul, and his effort was creeping into the net before being tipped on to the crossbar by Niall Morgan.

The goalkeeper did not get the credit for a fine save, however, with the linesman – part of a Latvian refereeing contingent taking part in an exchange programme – awarding a goal kick.

Before the game Murphy had warned his players to be wary of a strong Linfield start, but the visitors struggled to land shots on target.

Aaron Burns had two early efforts, shooting wide of the near post before seizing a poor pass from Morgan, cutting inside and firing narrowly over.

Dungannon’s first chance of note came in the 27^th minute. A clever flick from Darren Boyce played in David McCullough but his touch took the ball wide, with the final effort not troubling the goalkeeper.

Most of their work in the first half was focused on defending, with Linfield enjoying the majority of possession.

However, Morgan wasn’t overly troubled and when Douglas scored, few could say it was against the run of play.

Indeed Dungannon had chances to stretch their lead either side of half-time.

First Jonathan Tuffey got a strong hand to prevent a cross-shot from Douglas creeping inside the far post. Then soon after the restart a kick-out found its way through to Boyce, but the goalkeeper was quickly off his line to thwart the striker.

At the other end Andy Waterworth had a rare chance when he took a pass, turned sharply but directed his shot just wide of the top left-hand corner.

Jeffrey introduced former Swifts striker Mark McAllister as he chased an equaliser, but the bigger problem was in midfield where the Blues lacked creativity.

It was only in the final 15 minutes when the visitors really threatened.

Morgan darted out to prevent Philip Lowry converting Jamie Mulgrew’s pass, then brilliantly denied Conor McMenamin from close range with his left foot.

Perhaps Linfield sensed it would not be their day when McCaul missed a great chance late on.

Ervin sent in a deep cross to pick out the player, but his header back across goal narrowly missed the target, much to the frustration of Jeffrey on the touchline.

DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, Grieve, Lowe (Brennan, 82), McCaffrey, McMinn, Hazley (S Lavery 77), Topley, Hutchinson, Douglas, Boyce, McCullough

Subs not used: Fitzpatrick, Harpur, C Lavery

LINFIELD: Tuffey, McVey, Waterworth, Lowry, BJ Burns (Ervin, 21), A Burns, Ward, Clarke (McMenamin, 75), Tipton (McAllister, 55), Mulgrew, McCaul

Subs not used: Knowles, Glendinning

Referee: Vadims Direktorenko (Latvia)