Ballymena United claim 3-1 victory over Dungannon Swifts

BALLYMENA United moved into fifth position in the Danske Bank Premiership with a comprehensive victory at Stangmore Park.

Ballymena were very much the dominant force in the opening half as they spent much of the opening half hour camped in Dungannon territory.

Full-back Tony Kane was a willing worker down Ballymena’s right flank and he got to the bye-line before cutting back a cross which Gary Thompson met at the near post but Swifts keeper Niall Morgan was able to turn the ball behind for a corner.

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As Ballymena continued to press, Ross Black’s free kick from the left was knocked down by Davy Munster for McCabe to shoot narrowly wide.

But Ballymena eventually made their dominance count on 27 minutes. Gary Thompson’s through ball from the centre circle sent McCabe scampering down the right hand channel and when the teenage striker’s pace took him past Adam McMinn,.

He then had the presence of mind to look up before picking out the in-rushing Davidson who fired low into the bottom corner.

It took Dungannon 41 minutes to register an effort on target when Johnny Topley’s 25 yard shot bounced off Dwayne Nelson’s knee before the keeper was able to grab at the second attempt.

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Ballymena spurned a glorious opportunity to double their lead in the last minute of the first half.

Ally Teggart’s through ball released Thompson and when the midfielder went round the keeper he was brought down.

Morgan was booked but the keeper redeemed himself when he dived low to his right to save Teggart’s penalty with his legs.

Dungannon posed more of a threat after the break and when a corner was half cleared, substitute Emmet Friars helped the ball back into the penalty area with keeper Nelson curiously allowing the bounce to bounce off the outside of the post and behind.

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But Ballymena sealed the points 14 minutes from the end when, following a Teggart corner, Jamie Davidson was on hand to poke home from close range.

And United added some gloss to the scoreline seven minutes from time when Mark Surgenor headed home at the near post following a Davidson corner.

Dungannon scored a consolation goal with two minutes left when Josh Cahoon curled a cracking effort beyond Nelson and into the top corner from the corner of the penalty area.

Dungannon Swifts: Morgan, O’Neill, Montgomery (sub E Friars 46), McMinn, Grieve, Harpur (sub S Friars 46), Topley, S Lavery, Brennan, O’Neill (sub Cahoon 64), Gawley. Subs (not used): C Lavery, Glackin.

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Ballymena United: Nelson, Kane, Munster, Stewart, Black, Taggart, Thompson, A Davidson (sub Surgenor 71), Cushley (sub J Davidson 53), McCabe (sub Costello 77), Teggart. Subs (not used): Ruddy, Lowry.

Referee: Colin Burns (Newtownabbey).

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