Swifts battle but lose to the Stute

Rathfriland Swifts 1

ON Saturday Rathfriland Swifts travelled to second placed team and promotion contenders Lurgan Institute for a league fixture at Lurgan Park.

The home side are unbeaten since December and took the lead on 20 minutes through a corner where the number nine rose highest to power home.

The Swifts pulled a goal back on the half hour when from a long Lee McDowell throw in the ball was flicked on by William Morrison and Micky Morgan pounced to head high into the roof of the net to level the scores at 1-1.

Morgan could have grabbed a second minutes later but just as he was to pull the trigger the centre half made a fantastic last gasp tackle.

On the restart the home side rattled the crossbar with a rasping 25 yard drive while Rathfriland went close from a corner.

Stute got their second of the game on the hour when a ball was fired into the box from the right and it broke for the number eight to force it over the line and a third followed soon after when one of the centre midfielders fired a low shot into the bottom corner.

John Frazer went close for Rathfriland with a header while Micky Morgan went close again and Liam McGivern thumped past the upright when in a one on one with the `keeper.

Overall a battling display by the visiting Swifts against a decent team who look certain to get promotion. A bit more concentration and a point would not have been an unfair result.

TEAM: Robert Strain, Brian Magennis, William Morrison, John Frazer, Joe Maginn, David Gilmore, Paul Campbell, Lee McDowell, Micky Morgan, Liam McGivern, Niall Maginn. Subs: Stevie Morton, Joel Annett, Philip Waddle.