Jim Ervin blasts ‘schoolboy’ errors as Dungannon Swifts inflict painful defeat on Ballymena United

Ballymena United 2 Dungannon Swifts 4

Ballymena United boss Jim Ervin

It was a tale of four set-pieces, four headers and four goals as Ballymena United presented Dungannon Swifts with three crucial points in this basement battle on Warden Street.

Sky Blues boss Jim Ervin called their defending “schoolboy stuff” as Adam Glenny (twice) and Dean Curry headed home from two free-kicks and a corner and Ben Gallagher bundled home the Swifts’ other goal after Curry’s header from Leo Alves’ corner was stopped on the line by Sean Brown.

“It’s difficult to take,” said Ervin afterwards. “If you’re a defender and you don’t want to head the ball, you are in big trouble; they wanted to head the ball more than we did, and they scored four goals.

“They didn’t outplay us, they didn’t outpass us, they didn’t create too many chances from open play, they didn’t need to.

“We gave them four goals from set-pieces.

“I just hope it was a bad day at the office because it hasn’t been an issue for us all season.

“But today’s was schoolboy stuff. If that happened at schoolboy level, they would be in serious trouble as to where they would go, so the boys will have to have a good look at how they defend set-pieces.”

At least the goals at the right end are still flowing for Ballymena. After failing to score in seven games, they have now scored 10 in their last four, the latest from Mikey Place and the impressive Fraser Taylor.

For the Swifts, it was a lucky 13 after ending a 12-game run without a victory over Ballymena — Kris Lindsay was the man in charge the last time they beat them at The Showgrounds 35 months ago, and McAree was delighted that the result, while keeping them in 10th place, moved them six points clear of United.

“We spoke during the