Dungannon Swifts continued their impressive run of form by defeating newly promoted Limavady United away from home to earn both their fourth consecutive win and fourth clean sheet.
Despite many changes to the starting XI from the win over Dollingstown mid-week, only Danny Wallace left the team from the league win last weekend over Cliftonville. Cahal McGinty replaced him.
Both teams cancelled each other out in the early stages, with half chances and a couple of corners being the extent of the action.
The first real chance of the game came seventeen minutes in. Barney McKeown played a through ball to Paul Doyle, who passed to Leo Alves. Alves had time to release his shot, but Gallagher in the Limavady United goal got down to save well.
The hosts had a huge opportunity to open the scoring just minutes after. The ball was fed through by John Butcher to debutant Jamie McGonigle, but Declan Dunne made a fantastic, close range save to keep the score 0-0. A penalty shout followed, but was waved away by referee Ian McNabb.
Then, the opening goal came. Paul Doyle earned a free kick from approximately twenty five yards out, which Kealan Dillon and Leo Alves lined up for. It would be Alves to hit, and the ball was fired low past the goalkeeper and into the net to put the Swifts ahead. He then delighted the crowd with his signature acrobatic celebration.
Just before the conclusion of the half, the Swifts came close to doubling their advantage. After a one-two between Cahal McGinty and Junior, the defender let fly a great effort from the left hand side, which the ‘keeper just tipped over the bar.
The Swifts came close very early in the second half as Kealan Dillon created the first chance, with his shot going over the bar.
However, Limavady started the second half strongly, putting pressure on the Swifts defence as they searched for an equaliser.
They came particularly close in the 51st minute from a free kick. Lafferty on the right put in a nice ball which met Farren at the back post, and his header hit the crossbar.
The home side came close again just before the hour mark. Philip Lowry’s shot was saved well by Dunne in the Dungannon Swifts net, but the ball fell to Gaston. Luckily for the Swifts, his shot at goal went high over the crossbar.
Soon after, McGonigle had another effort, but was saved easily by Dunne.
After a half chance just minues before, the Swifts got their second goal. Sean McAllister’s shot after a run down the right was saved by the goalkeeper, but Junior headed the rebound goalwords. It was saved by Gallagher, but ricocheted off Ruairi Boorman and into the net to double the lead.
From this, the Swifts really began to control the game, creating more chances and having most of the possession.
They nearly got a third with twelve minutes to go. Jamie Glackin laid the ball back to Kealan Dillon, and his cross went past everyone in the box and struck the post.
Corey Smith looked dangerous after coming on as a sub, having multiple chances to score. In a space of six minutes, he had a shot from a Kealan Dillon pass which went over the bar, and also an effort which dragged past the post after charge down the wing.
Soon after, the referee sounded his full time whistle to signal a 2-0 Swifts win, and bring another three points back to Dungannon. This result sent them top of the table for a short period to the delight of the travelling crowd who were vocal on their way out of the Showgrounds.
Post-match, Dixie Robinson said: “It’s been a great few weeks for us now. We’ve really upped our levels and defensively in particular, I think we’ve been very very solid. So, coming here today, I knew it was a very difficult game and once we got the first goal, I thought it settled us down a bit, a wee bit like, but we always needed a second just to kill the game off. I thought we defended well, they didn’t really create a big pile and I thought we’re on our comfortable enough winners.
“It’s great you know, especially when you’re keeping clean sheets. I think someone said it’s the first time that the Swifts have kept four consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League, so you know that’s a wonderful stat and it’s a credit to the boys.”
The next game for the Swifts is against Linfield with a kick off at the later time of 18:00 at Stangmore Park, and will be shown on NIFL TV.
Limavady United: Gallagher (GK), Farren, T. Boorman, P. Lowry, S. Lowry (C) (R. Boorman 66’), McGonigle, Butcher (Boyd 73’), Lafferty, Gaston (Duffy 80’), Wilson (Carlin 80’), Mullan.
Unused Substitutes: Doherty (GK), Jarvis, O’Donnell.
Dungannon Swifts: Dunne (GK), McGinty, J. Scott, McKeown, Dillon, Alves (Smith 72’), Gordon, Doyle (Glackin 72’), Bigirimana (C) (Kelly 46’), Junior (Mitchell 80’), McAllister.
Unused Substitutes: Henderson (GK), Lowe, Johnston.
