Swifts pick up first point after draw at Glenavon

DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP

Glenavon…0

Dungannon Swifts….0

Dungannon Swifts picked up their first point of the season in a scoreless draw at Mourneview Park this afternoon.

Following defeats against Larne and Warrenpoint Town, Kris Lindsay’s team deservedly earned a share of the spoils although they did enjoyed two moments of good fortune during the Mid Ulser clash.

First Conor McCloskey fired a first half penalty over the crossbar and at the beginning of the second half Glenavon were up in arms when they were denied a second spot-kick after Swifts keeper Sam Johnston appeared to catch striker Daniel Purkis.

Initially both sides struggled with the conditions and the first real opportunity was a header by Glenavon defender Calum Birney which was deflected over.

Birney’s team-mate Sean Ward then had a flashing drive tipped over by Johnston who moments later gave away a penalty after clattering into Purkis.

However the visitors breathed a huge sigh of relief when McCloskey blazed the resultant penalty over the crossbar.

Dungannon had the better of the remainder of the half with Daniel Hughes curling well wide following a sweeping move involving Ally Teggart, Oisin Smyth and Michael Carvill.

Carvill then failed to connect with an inviting cross from Kris Lowe but the ball remained live and Glenavon keeper Johnny Tuffey did well to save a Caolin Coyle snap shot.

Coyle also had the first attempt of the second half when fizzing a 25-yard effort wide of Tuffey’s left upright before Glenavon had those strong claims for a penalty waved away when Johnston again tangled with Purkis.

The visitors responded with Lowe volleying straight a Tuffey from 25-yards before the same player volleyed over from close range after good play by sub James Convie.

Lowe have the ball in the net with seven minutes remaining in the wake of a fabulous touch by Convie but it was ruled offside.

The Teams

Glenavon

J Tuffey; D Larmour; C Coates; C Birney; J Jenkins (M O’Connor 64); D Purkis; M Snoddy J O’Mahony 78); C McCloskey (M Fitzpatrick 64); J Singleton; R Garret; S Ward.

Subs not used: C Byrne; A Hall; O Taylor; L Rea.

Dungannon Swifts

S Johnston; C Coyle; A Teggart; D King; C Byers; K Lowe; O Smyth; D O’Kane (J Convie 66); M Carvill (S McGinty 66); L Forde, D Hughes (R Campbell 79).

Subs not used: C Byrne; B Gallagher; F Brennan;; A Glenny.

Referee

S Gregg