Benji Magee spares Loughgall team-mate’s blushes with late winner over Swifts

Loughgall 2 Dungannon Swifts 1

Loughgall's Benji Magee was denied the chance of a hat-trick against Dungannon

Loughgall’s match-winning hero Benji Magee shouldn’t have had to wait until the 95th minute to decide a highly-charged derby battle against Dungannon Swifts.

The striker headed home his 13th League goal of the season to end a run of seven games without a win in dramatic fashion, but Loughgall assistant manager Andy Smith revealed that his big chance to be the Boxing Day toast of Lakeview Park should have come 15 minutes earlier.

With the game locked at 1-1 after Magee’s 13th minute opener was cancelled out by Kealan Dillion ten minutes before half time, Loughgall were handed a perfect opportunity to regain the lead – and potentially win the game – when they were awarded a penalty.

Referee Evan Boyce had no hesitation in pointing to the spot after Pablo Andrade had been fouled by John Scott.

As Smith, standing in as boss as brother Dean was serving a suspension, screamed out instructions on who was to take the penalty, Robbie Norton stepped up and saw his effort saved by Declan Dunne’s outstretched left hand.

Norton then was the most relieved man on the pitch when Magee headed home his right-wing cross to secure a first Sports Direct Premiership win since early November.

“Robbie wasn’t supposed to be the man taking the penalty,” Smith confirmed.

“He is a great lad, a great character about the club and when he came on he wanted to make a mark. I think he was maybe a little bit over enthusiastic when it came to the penalty and went ahead.

“It was a damn good save, but I think Benji spared the blushes for him. I’d been trying to get an instruction onto the pitch for Benji to take the penalty.”

Ultimately Magee