The new year got off to a winning start for Dungannon Swifts as they claimed a priceless victory in the weekend’s big relegation battle at Stangmore Park.
A late but potentially critical goal from Emmet Friars settled an absorbing match as Lisburn Distillery were pushed deeper into the relegation mire.
The defender – linked with a move away from the club this month – scored with a back-post header to breathe new life into Dungannon’s quest for survival.
It may not have been a game laced with quality, but it was high on sheer effort and intensity, serving up plenty of goalmouth action over the 90 minutes.
And while 2013 is not yet a week old, this will surely go down as one of the most significant results Dungannon will claim this year.
They have opened up a 10-point gap on the bottom placed Whites – quite an advantage over a side who’ve amassed just 11 points all season.
While Dungannon will feel they just about deserved to win, defeat was cruel on their opponents.
Distillery created the game’s two best chances either side of half-time but, tellingly, failed to hit the target with either one.
The first came in the 32nd minute following good play from Jordan Hughes. He advanced down the left wing and delivered a searching cross but Gary Liggett, unmarked six yards from goal, planted his header wide.
Otherwise it was Dungannon who carried the greater attacking threat in the first half.
Ryan Harpur, one of three players recalled to the team, went close with an early free-kick which Lee Windrum did well to push over the crossbar.
New signing James Costello, pitched straight into the team, was also causing problems leading the forward line and forced two powerful efforts on target.
The chances continued. Matt Hazley saw a 25-yard strike pushed clear, Chris Lavery’s low shot was saved while PJ Lavery had a close-range effort blocked.
However, Distillery really should have scored against the run of play through that Liggett chance.
They could have paid for what was a shocking miss had Dungannon took either of the two chances they created towards the end of the half.
First Harpur’s vicious free-kick flashed an inch over the bar. Windrum certainly thought it was heading for the net, as did many of the home supporters.
Then a corner from Hazley caused problems, with the ‘keeper’s punch landing just wide of his goal.
Distillery boss Tim McCann was clearly unhappy on the sidelines, and whatever he said at half-time seemed to jolt his side into action for the second half.
David McCullough’s 25-yard drive was pushed over before Andy Hunter wasted another terrific chance, heading wide from Aaron Traynor’s cross.
Niall Morgan, in his final game for Dungannon, diverted Scott Davidson’s close-range strike wide before stretching out a glove to prevent Hunter’s free-kick finding the bottom corner.
With 20 minutes left Dungannon brought on Jamie Douglas in an effort to re-establish some attacking threat.
But the injury-plagued striker, making his first appearance of the season, pulled up with a hamstring problem and was taken off again within three minutes.
It seemed everything was going against Dungannon – but then their luck suddenly changed.
A corner from Harpur reached Friars at the back post, and he rose to power a header past Windrum and get the new year off to a winning start.
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, Montgomery, C Lavery (Douglas, 70, Cahoon, 73), Hazley, Hutchinson, Grieve, S Lavery (PJ Lavery, 13), Brennan, Harpur, Friars, Costello
Subs not used: McMinn, Glackin
LISBURN DISTILLERY: Windrum, Smyth, Hunter, McCullough, Davidson, McCann (Melly, 59), Liggett (Beggs, 81), Traynor (Hall, 71), Ferguson, Hughes, Forsythe
Subs not used: Stinson, Halliday
Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast)