Lindsay thrilled to see Swifts finally end their away day blues
NAVID Nasseri issued a ‘don’t write us off’ warning even though Glentoran lost further ground in the title race at Glenavon on Saturday.
The tricky Iranian bagged two glorious goals, but Mick McDermott’s boys surrendered their advantage on the two occasions, which now leaves them a whopping eight points adrift of crosstown rivals Linfield.
Danny Purkis headed the gutsy hosts’ equaliser in the first half before a bizarre strike after the break from defender Aaron Harmon, from practically the halfway line, managed to bounce past Marijan Antolovic. The big Croatian shot stopper will not be rushing to push the replay button on that one.
Nasseri had the chance to win it 19 minutes from time when referee Shane Andrews pointed to the spot after Paul O’Neill’s cross had ricocheted off the arm of Harmon.
That decision was harsh to say the least, but justice was done when Jonny Tuffey got down to his right to make the save.
“We are still not out of the title race,” insisted Nasseri.
“We still have to play Linfield twice, otherwise I would say it would be game, set and match.
“There is still a lot to play for. Teams will drop points over the last eight games.
GLENAVON: Tuffey, Larmour, Doyle, Daniels, Harmon, Clingan (Snoddy, 46 mins), Purkis, Singleton, Jenkins (Byrne, 84 mins), Davidson (McCloskey, 58 mins), Coates. Unused subs: Burns, Beggs, Garrett, Farren.
GLENTORAN: Antolovic, Kane, Peers, Gallagher, McDaid, McClean, Pepper, Nasseri, Overbeek (O’Neill, 76 mins), Donnelly, Clucas. Unused subs: Morris, Frazer, Crowe, O’Neill, Cowan, O’Connor, Matulevicius.
Referee: Shane Andrews (Ballygowan)
Man of the match: Navid Nasseri
Match rating: 7/10
“It’s still in our hands. We’ve important games coming up with three points on offer in each one. It’s now up to up us to impose ourselves in each game to pick up those points.
“We know how we can perform.
“The Coleraine game was a blip when we lost 1-0 — the conditions were horrendous.
“But it would be fair to say, it’s been points dropped in our last two games (Carrick Rangers and Glenavon) against teams, with all respect, we should be beating.”
Nasseri admitted he was oozing with confidence when he took on the responsibility of spot kick taker in place of the injured Hrvoje Plum.
“I was feeling good and I was on a hat-trick,” he added.
“I missed a penalty in the Irish Cup (against Portadown) and that was the first one I’ve ever fluffed in my career.
“But I was confident and I thought I’d bury it in the bottom corner, but the goalkeeper got a good hand to it. I was more than disappointed, but you must give the keeper a bit of credit because it was a great save.
“It was massively disappointing we didn’t come away with all three points as we led on two occasions and then missed a penalty.
“Personally, my goals are cancelled out by missing the penalty at the end. I’m devastated for the team, it was a real kick in the teeth to us.
“We conceded slopped goals to as well. We were in control of the game for large parts which makes it even more frustrating.”
Glenavon boss Gary Hamilton praised the concentration levels of Tuffey, whose penalty stop helped his team earn the draw.
“Jonny made two outstanding saves — one was the penalty and the other in the first half when he seen the ball late on and he pushed it out for a corner,” said Hamilton.
“I’m delighted for him. Jonny would be the first to admit that he hasn’t been as good as he has been over the past few years for us, but in the last two games, he’s been back to his best.
“He’s back controlling and organising the back four and making big saves which has been a key for us in the four or five years he’s been here. He pulls you out of difficult situations with big saves.”
Hamilton, however, wasn’t happy with the penalty decision by referee Andrews.
“It was a ridiculous decision and it could have cost us the game,” said Hamilton. “He got out of jail because Jonny saved the spot kick.
“The players worked their socks off, they put in a shift, they do all the graft, but that decision could have cost us. I don’t like going on about referees, but it has to be highlighted.”
Goal joy: Stephen O’Donnell is hailed by Stephen Lowry
AFTER draws at Windsor Park and Solitude in the last month, Dungannon Swifts boss Kris Lindsay knew they were getting closer to that elusive away win.
Three points from their previous 13 games on the road was the sorry tale that Swifts ended at the Loughshore Hotel Arena and now Lindsay is looking upwards.
“The last number of weeks has seen good performances and a couple of times we didn’t get what we deserved,” he said.
“But they are a good group, the new signings in January have added freshness to the squad and we’re on a decent run. Long may it continue.
“The weather conditions were poor, it was a soft pitch, but we coped quite well and look forward to the Irish Cup next week.”
Goals from Dougie Wilson and Rhyss Campbell were enough for Dungannon, with Carrick only showing any urgency after Caolan Loughran had converted a 74th minute penalty. But, as enraged manager Niall Currie admitted, it was too little, too late.
“We didn’t get going until the penalty,” he said. “After that, we showed energy but, for me, that energy has to come from minute one. We didn’t have that today. We were just a little too relaxed and we carried four, five or six players.”
Chris Rodgers will miss the Gers’ next game after being sent off, for a second yellow card, at start of the second half.
“He gave the referee an option and it’s all uphill after that,” added Currie. “He knows how I feel about it!”
CARRICK: Doherty, Rodgers, Surgenor, Loughran, Carson, Kelly (Anderson, 9 mins), Faulkner, Cherry, Neale (Colligan, 64 mins), Smith (Reynolds, 64 mins), Gawne. Unused subs: Nicholl, Magill, Hassin, Dunne.
DUNGANNON: Johnston, Coyle, King, Wilson, Redman, Smyth, Carvill, McGinty (Devlin, 86 mins), McAleer (Patton, 66 mins), Campbell, Hughes. Unused subs: Byrne, McGuinness, Strain, Brennan, Keke.
Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast)
Man of the match: Dougie Wilson
Match rating: 6/10