by DSFC Media | Nov 4, 2011 | Uncategorized
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7fcnXauGUU?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=500&h=375]
Who put the ball in the Carlisle net?
Swifts First team coach Rod McAree returns to Fulham this weekend to conduct some business for Dungannon Swifts and Dungannon United Youth, but Fulham have taken the opportunity to introduce him to the crowd on the pitch at their game v Spurs on Sunday. McAree wrote himself into the Fulham history books by scoring that goal, which the fans still sing about to this day.
Everyone at the Swifts want to wish Rod a great trip, and i’m sure we will hear a few choruses of “who put the ball in the Carlisle net?” on Sky on Sunday!
by DSFC Media | Oct 31, 2011 | Uncategorized
A Dungannon Swifts side full of spirit fell just short at Windsor Park, but only after giving Linfield the fright of their lives on Halloween weekend.
The build-up to this game had been dominated by macabre predictions that Dungannon, haunted by a run of dismal results, would produce a horror show against the champions.
But it proved not to be the case, with a single strike from Aaron Burns proving the difference.
The defender shattered Swifts’ brave resistance in the 63rd minute, ghosting in to break the deadlock after Rory Patterson’s header had been parried.
It came as Dungannon were temporarily reduced to 10 men, after Johnny Topley was forced off the field to change a blood-soaked jersey.
While it was an unconvincing display from Linfield, they held on for an 11th league victory and now lead the table by five points with a game in hand.
Yet Swifts boss Dixie Robinson will wonder how his side didn’t get something from the fixture.
Stefan Lavery missed one terrific chance when through on goal while Ryan Mullan rattled the post in the closing stages as Linfield just about held on for the win.
But Robinson can take pride from a vastly improved performance, which laid to rest some of the ghosts from the previous weekend’s 5-0 drubbing against Glentoran.
Predictably Robinson opted for a defensive approach, at times putting 10 men behind the ball, and it frustrated the Blues for long periods.
The first incident of note came after 20 minutes when Damian Curran finished off a cross from Michael Carvill, but his goal was rightly ruled out for a push on the goalkeeper.
Otherwise it was proving a difficult afternoon for the Blues’ forward line, which struggled against Swifts’ highly disciplined, defensive game plan.
An injury to Alan Blayney meant former Dungannon ‘keeper Stuart Addis started in nets for Linfield, but he also had a relatively quiet afternoon.
His only task in the first half was to take possession of Lavery’s left-foot strike in the 37th minute after good approach work by Topley.
Certainly the home fans weren’t happy, and the boos which rang out as the teams walked off at half-time would have been hugely encouraging for Dungannon.
And things could have got even better two minutes into the second half. Terry Fitzpatrick played Lavery clean through, but his strike was tipped wide by Addis.
A minute later Lavery turned provider, touching on a corner from Darren Murphy towards Topley, but his strike across goal was blocked.
Yet the Linfield pressure had been slowly gathering, with the introduction of Patterson and Philip Lowry posing a fresh challenge for Dungannon.
Within four minutes of entering the action Patterson flicked on a corner from Robert Garrett, with Ryan McCluskey blocking the ball on the line.
Then, in the 63rd minute, the Blues finally broke through.
Another header from Patterson, this time on a deep Curran cross, was parried by the ‘keeper and Burns reacted first, firing home on the half-volley.
Now it was David Jeffrey’s turn to try and shut up shop, with Billy-Joe Burns replacing McAllister in a defensive move.
Swifts’ substitute Ryan O’Neill fired well wide from distance, before the woodwork cruelly denied the visitors a deserved equaliser.
Dermot McCaffrey pumped a long kick into the home box, and Mullan beat the ‘keeper to the ball but his header come back off the left post.
With Dungannon pushing men forward, Linfield could have added a second on the break.
Billy-Joe Burns pulled the ball back for Garrett but his low strike struck the post, while Niall Morgan also produced impressive blocks to twice thwart Patterson.
LINFIELD: Addis, Douglas, Gault (Lowry, 56), Curran, Carvill, A Burns, Fordyce (Patterson, 56), Garrett, Ervin, Watson, McAllister (BJ Burns, 70)
Subs not used: Murphy, Casement
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, McCluskey, Mullan, Montgomery (O’Neill, 76), McClean, S Lavery (McCready, 76), Fitzpatrick, McCaffrey, Murphy (McGerrigan, 70), Topley, Ward
Subs not used: Campbell, Funston
Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast)
by DSFC Media | Oct 24, 2011 | Uncategorized
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)
