Whites squander two goal lead

LISBURN Distillery threw away a two goal lead and the chance to avoid a potential play-off when they crashed to fellow strugglers Dungannon Swifts 3-2 at Stangmore Park last weekend.

In a dramatic match, Dungannon found themselves two goals down inside nine minutes as the Whites made a blistering start.

Just 94 seconds had elapsed when Gary Thompson fired Distillery in front, and the striker then doubled their advantage after a free-kick had been parried by the Dungannon goalkeeper.

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The Whites almost made it 3-0 in the 19th minute, but Gary Liggett’s drive crashed back off the post. had that gone in then it woulc have been all over for the Swifts.

That bit of good fortune for the home side proved a turning point, as Dungannon staged a stunning comeback.

First Michael McKerr fired home at the second attempt to halve the deficit, before Ryan O’Neill converted from a corner on the stroke of half-time.

The second half was a very different game as Dungannon seized control and Harpur snatched the points when he blasted home from close range.

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“The ball came into the box and Johnny Topley nodded it down,” Harpur, a January signing, added.

It all added up to a hugely disappointing afternoon for ex-Dungannon boss John Cunningham. The Distillery manager lost against his former team for the third time this season, and admitted his frustration at seeing three points slip away.

“We started like a house on fire and scored two good goals, but then took our foot off the gas,” he said.

“It’s disappointing not to get something from the game, especially with them scoring in the last two minutes, but we have to do a wee bit more in the final two games.”

Survival is still in Distillery’s own hands, and six points from their last two fixtures against Donegal Celtic and Ballymena United will be enough.