King believes things are looking up for Swifts

THINGS are beginning to look up for Dungannon Swifts after a poor start to the new Premiership season.

Kris Lindsay’s team lost their opening two games against Larne and Warrenpoint Town but following two scoreless draws against Glenavon and Carrick Rangers, Swifts secured their first win with a 2-1 victory over high-flying Cliftonville at Stangmore Park on Tuesday night.

Two goals by returning skipper Dougie Wilson, following the recent death of his mother, proved decisive but this was no one-man show. 

There were big performances all over the park for Swifts, among them Wilson’s centre-back partner Dylan King, who along with young fullbacks Caolin Coyle and Adam Glenny kept the Reds attack in check.

King agreed afterwards that it had been a top drawer performance – built on hard work, energy and aggression – and Dungannon’s best thus far.

“That was massive, you could see that everybody was putting their body on the line and giving it everything they had,” he said.

“That’s what you have to do when playing against teams like Cliftonville because they do have a lot of quality. You have to work hard, that’s the basic before you even think of scoring goals.

“I thought we set a platform for ourselves, we won the ball high up the pitch and then we took our chances when they came.

“Scoring has been a bit of a problem since the start of the season so it’s great to get two goals and it’s great for Dougie Wilson, especially coming back into the side after what happened and stuff.

“I’m buzzing for him but I’m buzzing for everyone. When you produce a performance like that you usually get what you deserve. And we deserved it tonight.”

FULL STORY IN THURSDAY’S STRABANE CHRONICLE