Soccer

Mark Randall comes to the rescue as Larne sinks Dungannon Swifts

Swifts got the better of the visitors in the opening period but the reigning champions stole the win

Dungannon Swifts v Larne Mark Randall of Larne opens the scoring during this evening’s game at Stangmore Park, Dungannon.
PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 23-12-24 Sports Direct Premiership 24/25 Match Day 22 Dungannon Swifts v Larne Mark Randall of Larne opens the scoring during this evening’s game at Stangmore Park, Dungannon. Photo - Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press (Andrew McCarroll/Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press)
By Glenn Kelly
Sports Direct NIFL Premiership: Dungannon Swifts 0 Larne 1

Larne grabbed a second-half sucker punch to grab a 1-0 victory over a dogged Dungannon Swifts this evening in the Sports Direct Premiership at Stangmore Park.

Mark Randall scored the only goal of the game early in the second half after the Swifts had had the better of the opening period.

Both sides will now look forward to a short turnaround of 72 hours before their respective St Stephen’s Day derbies.

It was the hosts who settled the quicker at Stangmore Park, with Leo Alves' free-kick curling just over the crossbar with just three minutes on the clock.

Ten minutes later the Swifts went close once more when Andrew Mitchell played a neat ball to James Knowles inside the box, but his header went just wide.

Soon after Andy Ryan had a couple of efforts from distance for Larne but failed to test Patrick Solis Grogan in the Dungannon goal.

On 35 minutes former Newry man John McGovern almost glanced the home side in front, but he failed to direct Steven Scott’s right-wing cross towards goal as the half ended scoreless.

As so often happens, the side that dominates the opening half is punished for failing to score and it was to be the case once more this evening when Mark Randall put Larne in front just six minutes after the break.

The midfielder celebrated signing a contract extension recently by poking into the net from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

Rodney McAree’s team almost equalised moments later when the impressive James Knowles struck the outside of the post from an excellent free-kick.

But not to be outdone, Larne went just as close soon after, when Ryan smashed his effort off the Swifts’ post after attacking down the right.

The final 20 minutes of the game petered out as neither side could muster any real threat on the other’s goal, but after a week where Dungannon pushed Linfield and Larne all the way they ultimately ended up pointless as Gary Haveron’s side rise to ninth, only a single point behind Coleraine with a whopping five games in-hand.

Dungannon Swifts: Solis Grogan, S Scott, McGinty, Mitchell, Wallace, Glenny, Bigirimana, Knowles, Alves, Dillon, McGovern.

Subs: Henderson, Curry, King, Boyd, Galvin, Hutchinson, McAleese:

Larne: Ferguson, Cosgrove, Todd, Want, Bolger, Graham, Randall, Donnelly, Lusty, Gallagher, Ryan.

Subs: Collett, Magee, McEneff, McKendry, Nolan, Sloan, Simpson.