Late penalty drama as table-toppers Larne secure last-gasp Dungannon Swifts victory
There was late penalty drama at Stangmore Park as Paul O’Neill struck an injury time spot-kick to keep Larne top of the Premiership table with a 2-1 victory over Dungannon Swifts.
Mark Randall put the Inver Reds ahead before Steven Scott, deployed in a more attacking position by Rodney McAree, unleashed a wicked shot from distance to equalise – it marked his first league goal for the Co Tyrone club.
In the dying seconds, Matty Lusty was brought down by Declan Dunne with O’Neill making no mistake from the spot.
The result keeps Larne at the summit ahead of Coleraine.
Here’s the story of the match:
TEAM NEWS
Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, Scott, Maguire, Kelly, Knowles, Alves, Glenny, McGinty, Wallace, Bigirimana (C), Junior
Subs: Glass, T. Maguire, Smith, McAleese, McCarron, Mitchell, Liggett
Larne: Ferguson, Cosgrove (C), Ridley, Nolan, Donnelly, S. Graham, Gallagher, Randall, Miller, McKendry, O'Connor
Subs: D. Graham, Wallace, Simpson, McEneff, Magee, Lusty, O'Neill
Referee: Declan Hassan
FIRST HALF
3: First attacking move of the afternoon for Dungannon sees Cahal McGinty slide a delightful pass into Steven Scott’s path and his cross is deflected out for a corner, which comes to nothing.
6: Conor McKendry attempts his luck from distance and his effort sails over Declan Dunne’s crossbar.
8: Dungannon clear from a Larne corner, but it falls to Mark Randall who forces Dunne into a smart low save. McKendry then sets up Tiarnan O’Connor – his header from close range doesn’t trouble the goalkeeper.
15: James Knowles sneaks around Larne’s defence at the back post and attempts a volley which he can’t direct on target.
24: Junior and Ryan Nolan involved in a tussle which sees both collide with the wall surrounding pitch. Larne defender comes off the worst but both are up and fine to continue.
28: O’Connor almost takes advantage of McGinty’s header back to Dunne, but the Dungannon goalkeeper recovers to claim at the second attempt.
31: Danny Wallace tries to pass it out from the back but sends his pass right at O’Connor. Larne striker takes a few steps forward before sending a shot straight at Dunne.
32: O’Connor involved in the action once again as he gets in front of Peter Maguire, who brings him down in a dangerous position. Dungannon defender first player booked.
34: GOAL – LARNE (MARK RANDALL): Dungannon punished from the resulting free-kick as Randall, who signed a new contract on Friday, sends a trademark effort past Dunne. 1-0.
36: Sensational Leroy Millar pass sends Sean Graham bounding into space down the left. He attempts to find O’Connor in the box but Wallace clears for a corner.
37: Real period of Larne pressure as McKendry’s shot is deflected for a corner before O’Connor drags an effort wide.
43: GOAL – DUNGANNON SWIFTS (STEVEN SCOTT): WHAT A GOAL! Out of nowhere, the ball drops to Scott, who unleashes a wicked effort from distance which sails over Rohan Ferguson for his first-ever Premiership goal. 1-1.
45: Change for Larne on the stroke of half-time as Chris Gallagher, who went down with a shoulder injury earlier in the half, is replaced by Jordan McEneff.
45+1: Dungannon should take the lead as McGinty is found with a pinpoint cross, but the defender can’t direct his header on target.
HALF TIME: Dungannon Swifts 1 – 1 Larne.
SECOND HALF
48: Scott pokes a through ball into Leo Alves’ path with the Dungannon attacker forcing Ferguson to make a save under pressure.
51: Tomas Cosgrove charges down Adam Glenny and feeds McKendry, who seems to be taken out while trying to return the ball to his captain, but it’s a corner instead.
58: High ball from McEneff allows O’Connor to get between Maguire and Dunne – it looks like the Dungannon goalkeeper handled outside the box but referee waves appeals away.
63: Double change for Larne with McKendry and O’Connor replaced by Matty Lusty and Paul O’Neill.
70: Rodney McAree looks to his bench with Bobby-Jack McAleese replacing James Knowles.
74: Randall looks to be set to fire Larne ahead from a Matty Lusty cut-back, but a combination of Maguire and Glenny stop a certain goal.
76: Benji Magee replaces goalscorer Randall for Larne.
85: Another change for Dungannon with Leo Alves replaced by Thomas Maguire.
86: Huge appeal for a penalty from Dungannon as Matt Ridley looks to clear a cross, but appeals waved away. Scott almost scores a second from the corner – Ferguson does well to scramble across and save.
90+1: PENALTY AND GOAL (O’NEILL): Late drama at Stangmore Park as Larne are awarded a penalty after Dunne is adjudged to bring down Lusty as he tried to round the keeper. O’Neill keeps his cool, smashing into the bottom corner.
FULL TIME: Dungannon Swifts 1 – 2 Larne.