Dungannon Swifts 2, Ballymena United 3

Ballymena United claimed their first league win in seven Danske Bank Premiership games with a hard-fought win at STangmore Park.
Ballymena's Gary Thompson 
celebrates after putting United 2-0 ahead at Stangmore Park. Picture: Press Eye.Ballymena's Gary Thompson 
celebrates after putting United 2-0 ahead at Stangmore Park. Picture: Press Eye.
Ballymena's Gary Thompson celebrates after putting United 2-0 ahead at Stangmore Park. Picture: Press Eye.

Ballymena got off to an ideal start with a goal after just 63 seconds.

Allan Jenkins poked a pass into the path of Gary Liggett down the left hand channel and he beat defender David McCullough before firing a left-foot shot which squirmed under the body of Dungannon keeper Gareth Buchanan.

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The Sky Blues almost doubled the advantage on nine minutes when Tony Kane’s inswinging corner went all the way to the back post where it bounced off the woodwork with Davy Munster just failing to get a touch at the back post.

Swifts gradually began to find a way back into the game with Terry Fitzpatrick heading over from close range from a corner and Stefan Lavery blazed high and wide after being played in by Fitzpatrick.

Instead United doubled their lead on 27 minutes when Ally Teggart was released down the right hand channel. It looked as though the winger might have a shooting chance but instead his cross came off defender Cameron Grieve and ricocheted into the path of Gary Thompson, who fired low under Buchanan from eight yards.

As the rain lashed down, Dungannon halved the deficit on 35 minutes. Ryan Harpur’s long-range shot from a free kick deflected straight to the feet of Stefan Lavery who fired under the advancing Dwayne Nelson.

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But United’s first half dominance was rewarded as they restored their two-goal advantage four minutes before the interval.

A long throw wasn’t cleared by Dungannon and Gary Liggett shot off the post with his follow-up effort brilliantly palmed out by Buchanan but as the ball pin-balled around the penalty area, Ballymena skipper Allan Jenkins showed tremendous determination to slide in among the bodies to fire into the bottom corner.

Dungannon pulled it back to 3-2 five minutes into the second period when Darren Boyce applied the finishing touch to Terry Fitzpatrick’s shot from close-range.

United missed a good chance when Teggart’s left-wing cross was met by a firm near post header by Michael McLellan but the striker could only direct his effort the wrong side of the woodwork.

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As Dungannon pressed relentlessly for an equaliser, United were indebted to two fantastic late saves from keeper Nelson to preserve their slender lead.

First, the ex-Swifts stopper dived full length to tip Grant Hutchinson’s 25-yard piledriver onto the crossbar and he had good fortune on his side when the ball dropped off the woodwrok and hit the keeper on the back before being grabbed.

And in stoppage time, Nelson dived to his left to get a decisive left hand to Matt Hazley’s free kick as United held on for the points.

Dungannon Swifts: Buchanan, McCullough (sub Lowe 58), Brennan, Copeland, Grieve, Harpur, Hutchinson, Fitzpatrick (sub C Lavery 72), Boyce (sub Douglas 80), S Lavery. Subs (not used): Topley, Glackin.

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Ballymena United: Nelson, Kane, McCullagh, Munster, McBride, Cushley (sub Robinson 59), Thompson, Jenkins, Teggart, Liggett (sub McCabe 90), McLellan (sub Surgenor 66). SUbs (not used): Davidson, Stewart.

Referee: Raymond Hetherington.

* For full reaction and analysis, see Tuesday’s Ballymena Times.