Hi °C | Lo °C Lisburn Distillery struggled for periods in this tie, but when they needed to up their game, they scored twice in the space of six minutes to secure a fourth successive league win that keeps them well placed for a top six finish.
That impressive finish, along with a couple of chances that came close to entering the net, left Whites boss Tommy Wright a happy man.
“Obviously, I'm pleased with both performance and the points,” he said.
“We improved as the game went on and could have scored more.
“David Cushley had a shot cleared off the line and Gary Browne was denied by a great save from Dungannon keeper Sean O’Neill.
“I said to the players that we went on a similar type run in the last 11 games last season and if we can do it again this season, goodness knows where we could end up — maybe top two or three,” added Wright, whose side continue a busy schedule when they play host to UCD in the second leg of their Setanta Sports Cup tie this evening.
Looked upon by many as favourites to progress after securing a scoreless draw at Dalymount Park a fortnight ago, Distillery will need to keep their opponents from bagging a potentially pivotal away goal — but Wright maintains that the league is his side’s bread and butter.
“Cups are nice but a top-six finish is the main target,” he added.
Swifts had outplayed their opponents in the first-half, but without creating any clear chances, their best a scuffed shot from Mickey Ward early on that was straight at visiting goalkeeper Billy Brennan.
After the break, Distillery threatened a couple of times before Browne put substitute Mark Patton in on goal on 70 minutes for a cool finish, a chipped shot over the goalkeeper.
Swifts levelled five minutes later through Ward, but Browne secured the win with a stunning free on 77 minutes.
Swifts boss Dixie Robinson — who saw midfielder Niall Henderson dismissed for an off-the-ball offence — was critical of all aspects of the game.
“To be fair, I thought that Distillery were just going through the motions and we seemed to emulate them,” he said.
“I felt sorry for anyone who paid in to see this, minus the free-kick which was terrific.
“Neither side deserved anything from the game. The two teams on the pitch and the officials gave a similar display. All 25 people who were on the pitch were poor.”
