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 26th 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 72nd 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)