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Dungannon Swifts 1-0 Ards
He may have been wearing new boots but Darren Boyce showed he has lost none of his old scoring touch by grabbing the winner against Ards.
The striker was sporting a change of footwear and it seemed to prove a lucky omen as Dungannon’s strong start to the season continued.
In truth Boyce’s strike owed as much to poor goalkeeping as good forward play, with his effort slipping past Graeme McKibben far too easily.
Not that it concerned Swifts boss Darren Murphy, who was quick to point out that Irish League football is sometimes about grinding out wins.
His side have played better and lost – an example coming at Portadown a week earlier when they dominated for 60 minutes but got nothing.
For Ards it was another defeat –their seventh in eight games – keeping them rooted to the foot of the league table.
Already it is looking like a season of struggle for the newly-promoted team.
The winning goal aside, they did suffer some terrible luck on Saturday, including a strong penalty claim in the final minute which wasn’t given.
There was also an incident where Dungannon goalkeeper Gareth Buchanan was lucky to stay on the pitch after appearing to handle outside his area.
Indeed, apart from the goal there was little between the sides in a game lacking chances and attacking quality.
The winning goal came from the best move of the first half.
Fra Brennan played the ball down the right flank for Boyce, he cut inside and drilled a low shot which beat the goalkeeper all too easily.
It followed a bright start by Dungannon, with Ryan Harpur drawing the first save from a free-kick which McKibben did well to push wide.
Then a Jamie Douglas corner found David McCullough at the back post, but the accuracy of the delivery was not matched by the accuracy of the header, which flashed wide.
Boyce’s 16th minute strike should have been the catalyst for Dungannon to stamp their authority on the game, but it never materialised.
A free-kick from Douglas was on target but easily saved by the goalkeeper while Stefan Lavery’s ambitious overhead kick landed wide.
Ards’ best chance fell to William Faulkner, arguably their best player of the half, with his 25-yard shot narrowly clearing the crossbar.
The main moment of controversy came when Ards forward Paul McDowell – a substitute for the injured Ryan Moffatt – chased a pass forward. Buchanan came out to intercept and appeared to handle outside his area, however, it went unnoticed by the referee.
The second half was a similarly lacklustre affair, with most of the chances falling for the visitors.
David Gibson headed over from Ben Roy’s corner while Andy Mitchell’s 25-yard strike was safely collected by Buchanan.
Another Roy delivery found Andy Hunter, but his header was straight at the ‘keeper.
Dungannon had a rare chance when Terry Fitzpatrick teed up Lavery, who turned well but lifted his shot over the crossbar.
They also had penalty appeals turned down after a visiting defender appeared to handle in the box.
Ards too had cause for complaint when Mitchell looked to have been fouled in the area by Brennan – again nothing was given.
But they so nearly snatched a point in stoppage time. Roy’s cross found McDowell free in the box, with his header flashing narrowly wide of the target.
DGN SWIFTS: Buchanan, McKerr, Brennan, McCaffrey, Mulgrew, McCullough (Hutchinson, 70), Harpur, Fitzpatrick, Douglas (C Lavery, 53), Boyce, S Lavery
Subs not used: Doyle, Costello, Copeland
ARDS: McKibben, Hall, Gibson, Hunter, K McDowell (Roy, 51), Faulkner (Dougan, 66), Smyth, Davidson, Moffatt (P McDowell, 28), McMillan, Mitchell
Subs not used: Henderson, Spence
Referee: Keith Kennedy (Lisburn)
John blows the final whistle on his service to football body
Joe McAree presenting John Brown with his Long Service Award from DSFC.
John Brown has blown full-time on his distinguished service to the Irish Football Association (IFA) which has seen him kick off many years as a referee and move to a seat on the association’s international committee.
En route, he “was there” when Gerry Armstrong hammered home the goal against Spain (World Cup 1982) so often viewed on television, and has other great memories of travelling all over Europe – including the Azores and Iceland – when he was on the Junior International Committee of the IFA and watched promising young players like David Healy and Aaron Hughes go through the ranks.
And he still holds dear the memory of the iconic Healy goal that saw Northern Ireland beat England 1-0 in the 2005 World Cup qualifier, although England still went through. And the famous disallowed “perfectly good goal” that George Best scored when he ‘stole’ the ball from England keeper Gordon Banks (May 1971) still rankles with him, as it does with so many fans, especially as Francis Lee clearly handled the ball prior to England’s winner.
John began life his football life as manager in his home town Lisburn when he ran junior side Lisnargarvey Strollers. But when he moved to Portadown and married the former Gladys Robinson in 1964 (sadly Gladys died at the young age of 53) he turned to off-field activities.
He qualified as a Grade Two referee (in control of B Division matches and running the line in senior matches) and then moved to his true forte of administration in the mid-1970s.
He became secretary of the Mid Ulster League after predecessor Roy Marshall joined the IFA full-time, then was appointed secretary of the Mid Ulster Football Association for 14 years (also treasurer), after which he was secretary of Portadown Football Club for three years.
In 1993, he suffered a stroke – from which he has recovered well – and at that stage (1993) Dungannon Swifts – then B Division – asked him to join their board, which he did the following year and there he remains. “I don’t know why they asked me,” said the modest John. “But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Swifts – it’s been a happy ‘marriage.”
Meanwhile, he was invited to join the IFA and initially travelled all over Europe with the junior teams – Norway, France, Italy, Eastern Europe, Iceland, Azores, you name it and John Brown was there.
He joined the IFA the night before his beloved Arsenal were beaten 1-0 by Ipswich Town in the FA Cup Final, with Roger Osborne hitting the winner – “even more sickening as I sat in Wembley and watched it!”
He was on the junior committee for 18 years and then was invited onto the international committee, where one of his first duties was the appointment of Laurie Sanchez as Northern Ireland team manager, an era more successful than most, given the rather restrictive panel that he had to work with, the golden moment being that single goal win over England.
Meanwhile John – a retired technician with DoE Roads Service – bore the death of his beloved wife Gladys and his illness with great fortitude, and appreciates the help of daughter Janet Compston, son Gary and his four grandchildren.
At the age of 73, John felt it was time to step down. “The upper age limit in the IFA is 75, so I feel my timing is just right,” he said. “I decided I wouldn’t wait for the final whistle!”
John has moved from his position as Club representative to Vice President of Dungannon Swifts Football Club. We thank John for all the hard word and endless trips he made up and down the motorway to attend meetings on behalf of DSFC. These tasks sometimes go unnoticed and with little thanks but we want to highlight to John we appreciated them so much! Noel McClure has since taken over the role as Club Rep to the NIFL since John left this position and we wish him all the best also.
Thank you John.
Thanks to the Portadown times for the use of some of this content.
Portadown 2-1 Dungannon Swifts
There was no repeat of the previous week’s 11-goal massacre – but that is the only consolation Dungannon Swifts will take from this defeat.
One of the fastest strikes of the season helped Portadown to a narrow but deserved victory in this Mid-Ulster derby at Shamrock Park.
The game was won and lost in the opening 30 minutes as a shocking start from Dungannon was ruthlessly punished by Ronnie McFall’s men.
Darren Murray struck after 47 seconds and then Kevin Braniff doubled the lead just past the half-hour to put the home side in control.
Both goals came from shocking defensive lapses, and it was only at 2-0 down that Swifts finally got their act together.
Jamie Douglas reduced the deficit and came close to levelling with a 30-yard effort, while David Miskelly also made some great saves.
Darren Murphy will be particularly disappointed, having pledged his side would make it difficult for Portadown in the build-up to the game.
The Ports had hit 11 goals in their previous outing, albeit there was never any danger of a repeat against a Dungannon side, who – that dismal first 30 minutes aside – proved a real handful.
Some visiting fans may just have feared the worst after that nightmare start, however.
No doubt Murphy’s final words to his players would have been to frustrate Portadown and keep things tight for the opening few minutes.
But all his preparations went out the window after 47 seconds as the Ports picked up where they had left off against Ballinamallard.
A mistake from Ricky Copeland gifted possession to Braniff and he set up Murray, who floated a fabulous effort over the helpless goalkeeper.
Another defensive error let in Gary Twigg soon afterwards, but he slid his effort wide.
Dungannon’s first chance fell to Stefan Lavery. He took possession inside the box but his near-post drive was turned wide.
After a very nervous start, the visitors had settled and were working their way back into the match – and then disaster struck.
A long ball sliced through the Swifts’central defence and Braniff took full advantage by prodding home with his left foot.
It was looking grim for Dungannon, but Douglas’s goal handed them a much-needed lifeline. A cross from the right wing picked out the striker, whose low, left-footed drive found the net.
And they were almost level moments later. An audacious 20-yard lob from Douglas struck the crossbar and fell perfectly for McCullough, but he was twice denied by the goalkeeper.
It was now a very different game, and Miskelly made another splendid save to turn Darren Boyce’s 25-yard pile-driver wide.
Lavery landed an effort on target from distance, while between those chances Braniff had a strike pushed clear.
Swifts threatened straight from the restart when McCullough crossed to Douglas, but his back-post strike was comfortably saved.
They also had a huge slice of luck when a blatant foul by Michael McKerr on Aaron Trainor inside the box went unpunished – much to the fury of McFall on the sideline.
Dungannon also had cause for complaint when Lavery appeared to be tripped in the box by Emmet Friars – again nothing was given.
However, the quality and intensity of attacking play had somewhat subsided, with neither goalkeeper being seriously tested.
Tim Mouncey curled an effort over while Braniff’s cross-shot flashed dangerous across goal.
The home side almost wrapped the game up when Braniff set up Ryan McStay, but he pulled his effort inches wide of the target.
PORTADOWN: Miskelly, Casement, Breen, McMahon, Braniff, Murray (Mouncey, 16), McCafferty, Friars, Twigg, Trainor, McStay
Subs not used: Brennan, McConnell, Judge, Rooney
DGN SWIFTS: Buchanan, McKerr (Doyle, 65), Copeland (Brennan, 65), McCaffrey, Mulgrew, McCullough, Harpur, Fitzpatrick, Douglas, Boyce, S Lavery (Glackin, 81)
Subs not used: Hutchinson, Costello
Referee: Andrew Davey (Belfast)
Dungannon Swifts 1-0 Coleraine
For a team who have suffered their fair share of bad luck, Dungannon Swifts aren’t half benefitting from some seriously good fortune recently.
A Chris Lavery strike secured another impressive three points and ended Coleraine’s unbeaten start to the season at Stangmore Park.
But it could so easily have been very different, with Shane Jennings striking the frame of the home goal with an otherwise textbook header in the final seconds.
Incredibly, it was the seventh time in as many league and cup matches this season in which the woodwork has come to Swifts’ rescue.
Leaving aside the League Cup tie at Larne, the other six incidents have been worth eight points to Darren Murphy’s side.
They ensured draws against Glenavon and Crusaders, and were the difference between one point and three against Warrenpoint, Ballinamallard and now Coleraine.
Jennings’ effort, which struck the left post in the 93rd minute, again underlined the fine margins which often decide Irish League games.
On another day, this drab, scrappy game could have produced a different outcome.
Coleraine had three good chances in a 15-minute spell during the second half, but each time the efforts went inches wide of the target.
But Lavery finally applied a clinical finish when he came off the bench to net the only goal of the afternoon in the 73rd minute.
This was a game which started slowly and never really got going.
Stephen Lowry tried his luck early on with a 30-yard drive which took an awkward bounce, but the effort was comfortably saved.
The visitors had another chance from a free-kick on the edge of the box, with Gary Browne’s curling effort going around the wall but also the right post.
A cross from Aaron Canning also drifted dangerously towards goal, forcing Gareth Buchanan to take evasive action and push the ball clear.
It was far from one-way traffic, however, with the clearest chances of the half falling to Dungannon.
A surging run from David McCullough produced an inviting ball across the box, but James Costello failed to connect while Stefan Lavery was shut out by a defender.
Jamie Douglas’s corner found Ryan Harpur and his header was pushed out to Dermot McCaffrey, but the defender lifted the ball over when well placed.
Then a superb cross from Cameron Grieve picked out Lavery in front of goal, but his glancing header was wide of the target.
The second half followed a similar frustrating pattern, albeit Coleraine did have three promising chances in a 15-minute period.
Jennings ghosted past McCaffrey to meet a Michael Hegarty pass, but dragged his shot narrowly off target.
It was a similar story when a throw found Lowry. He turned McCaffrey but also got too much angle on his strike, which rolled just beyond the far post.
The third effort fell to Jennings, who won possession in midfield, drove forward and hit a 25-yard drive just wide.
And those misses were punished when Swifts edged ahead with 17 minutes remaining.
Stephen Doyle released McCullough and, after his shot had been parried by the goalkeeper, Lavery fired home with a left-foot effort.
The goal might have drawn a reaction from Coleraine, but it was a relatively comfortable end to the game for Dungannon.
The only scare came from that Jennings header which hit the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
DGN SWIFTS: Buchanan, McKerr, McCaffrey, Copeland, Grieve, McCullough, Fitzpatrick, Harpur, Costello (C Lavery, 54), Douglas (Doyle, 72), S Lavery (Hutchinson, 90)
Subs not used: Glackin, Brennan
COLERAINE: Drummond, Beverland, Hegarty (Harkin, 79), Ogilby, Lowry, Browne, Carson (Moore, 79) Canning, Watt (Owens, 85), Jennings, Tommons
Subs not used: Bradley, McMullan
Referee: Mervyn Smyth (Belfast)
Crusaders 1-1 Dungannon Swifts
It may have lacked the drama of last week’s Mid-Ulster derby, but it was another positive result for Dungannon Swifts at Crusaders on Tuesday night.
A second half header from Ryan Harpur saw Dungannon come from behind for the second time in four days to claim a point.
The midfielder capitalised on a goalkeeping error to cancel out Gary McCutcheon’s opener and maintain Swifts’encouraging start to the new campaign.
In a game of few clear-cut chances, Crusaders will probably feel they did enough to merit victory.
However, a combination of wasteful finishing and some impressive defending from the visitors saw the match finish level.
Dungannon boss Darren Murphy was happy to settle for a point.
“I’m well pleased with a point because I’ve come here with teams in the past and been totally outplayed,” he said.
“Crusaders probably had a lot of the ball tonight, but I don’t think they really troubled us that much.
“They played into the way we wanted them to play. They knocked balls into certain areas which we were able to deal with.
“Our goalkeeper Gareth Buchanan made one good save in either half, but apart from that I felt we were relatively comfortable.”
These teams had met 13 times in the league during the last decade, with both sides winning four games and drawing the other five.
So it was perhaps little surprise that a hard-fought encounter ended all square.
A scoreless first half produced little in the way of goalmouth action, with the best chances falling to Crusaders.
After 10 minutes a cross from Craig McClean was flicked on to Jordan Owens but the striker, eight yards out, saw his snapshot blocked by the goalkeeper.
The same player was equally culpable four minutes later when Declan Caddell turned McCutcheon’s free-kick back into the box, with Owens heading over from close range.
Dungannon’s only chance of the half was a Harpur free-kick, but his ambitious effort was easily dealt with by Sean O’Neill.
The Crues went close at the end of the half when Paul Heatley crossed but Timmy Adamson poked the ball wide at the near post.
New signing Dermot McCaffrey was brought on as a second half substitute for Dungannon – but his first touch in a Swifts jersey was one to forget.
He unwittingly got in the way of McCutcheon’s shot, with the deflection taking it beyond the reach of the goalkeeper and into the net.
Dungannon almost conceded a second when Owens’ clever effort came back off the crossbar.
And the visitors took full advantage of that let-off, equalising in the 67th minute.
A cross from Cameron Grieve was missed by the goalkeeper, and Harpur headed home his first goal of the season from close range.
Crusaders pushed for a late winner. Heatley had a shot saved after cutting in from the left, Eamonn McAllister’s lob was tipped over while Chris Morrow’s powerful drive was blocked.
But the best chance fell to Adamson in stoppage time. David McAllister swung the ball in but the former Swifts striker headed straight at the goalkeeper from a brilliant position.
CRUSADERS: O’Neill, Magowan, Coates, Morrow, Adamson, Caddell (Snoddy, 85), McCutcheon (A McAllister, 72), McClean, Owens, Heatley (D McAllister, 80), King
Subs not used: Robinson, Watson
DGN SWIFTS: Buchanan, McCullough, Brennan, Copeland, McKerr (McCaffrey, 49), Harpur, Fitzpatrick, Grieve, Costello (Douglas, 64), Boyce, S Lavery
Subs not used: C Lavery, Doyle, Hutchinson
Referee: Colin Burns (Newtownabbey)