Dungannon Swifts can build on momentum of shock win over Larne, says Dean Shiels

Ryan Mayse struck after just three minutes at Inver Park and the visitors held on for a memorable victory to move 11 points clear of the drop zone and just one behind Carrick Rangers in ninth.

“Three away wins in a week — I’m over the moon with it,” beamed Shiels.

“We had such a tough game on Tuesday night against Warrenpoint. I’ve tried to rotate the squad and patch the players up.

“We came to Larne and we thoroughly deserved the win.”

Goalkeeper Declan Dunne made his second appearance for the Swifts after moving from Cliftonville last week and helped Dungannon pick up only their second clean sheet of the League campaign.

The solidity shown at the home of the League’s top goalscorers pleased Shiels greatly.

“That’s something that’s been lacking,” he said.

“The keeper added stability and confidence and defensively we were superb.

“In the first half, I thought we were a bit wasteful and could have got the second goal when we had good opportunities.

“However, when you come away to a full-time team with these resources — and it’s our third game in a week — it’s a great character win.

“It’s something we can build on, we have momentum.”

Larne came into the game fresh from retaining the County Antrim Shield courtesy of a 1-0 win over Linfield on Tuesday. That result made it four wins in a row for Tiernan Lynch’s men and they had designs on closing the gap on the teams above them.

They suffered the worst possible start to this game, however. Cian Bolger played the ball across the face of his own box to Albert Watson, who took a heavy touch and allowed Rhyss Campbell to nip in.

The quick-thinking winger then squared the ball for Mayse to slam home from 10 yards.

Larne were lethargic for the remainder of the half, but kicked more into life with the introduction of John Herron after the break. Try as they might, though, they failed to seriously trouble Dunne.

Lee Bonis, making his first start since his big-money move from Portadown, came close with a header, while strike partner Ronan Hale had a few half-chances.

All in all, it left home boss Lynch a frustrated figure after seeing his side slip to fifth in the table.

“It was one of those days where no matter what we tried, nothing came off for us,” he said.

“We’re not going to make any excuses for it, it wasn’t good enough.

“Games against Dungannon at home, with all due respect to Dungannon, we should be winning but we haven’t.

“Once we conceded so early, we probably panicked. We tried to force things, we tried to chase it whereas we needed to settle down and trust in our ability.

“We were uptight, the crowd got uptight and what was a bad start got worse.

“In the second half, we changed shape slightly and knocked it around well, but we lacked penetration.

“One goal might have deflated Dungannon and took away what they were hanging on to, but that didn’t come.”

LARNE: Ferguson 7, Balmer 6, Kelly 6, Watson 5 (Herron, 46 mins, 7), Nasseri 5 (Jarvis, 46 mins, 5), Randall 5, Hale 5, Doherty 5 (McDaid, 79 mins 5), Scott 6, Bolger 5, Bonis 6.

Unused subs: Devlin, Sule, Lynch, Mitchell.

DUNGANNON SWIFTS: Dunne 8, Glynn 7, Knowles 8, Mayse 8 (Coyle, 62 mins, 7), Smyth 8, Campbell 8, McKendry 7 (Glenny, 74 mins, 6), McGinty 7, McBrien 7 (McCready, 84 mins, 6), Devlin 8, McGee 8.

Unused subs: Nelson, Gallagher, Francis, Convie

Referee: Christopher Morrison 6

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