‘Outstanding’ Dungannon Swifts unfortunate to lose at ten-man Carrick Rangers: Rodney McAree

Carrick Rangers 2 Dungannon Swifts 1

Carrick Rangers' David Cushley is congratulated after his winner against Dungannon Swifts

There were contrasting emotions in the two dressing rooms after Carrick maintained their stranglehold over Dungannon Swifts with the home side relieved to come away with all three points and the visitors devastated to leave with nothing.

It was Carrick’s fifth straight win over the Swifts but they had to survive what boss Rodney McAree described as an “outstanding” second half performance from his team.

“We changed our shape at half-time, gave ourselves more width and got higher up the pitch but Carrick know how to dig out results here, it’s a tough place to come, but we can leave here with our heads held high,” said McAree.

“Second half we had seven or eight opportunities, hit the post and put Carrick on the back foot and, unfortunately, leave with nothing, but if we get that desire and commitment from all the players for the rest of the season we will do okay.”

It was two self-inflicted wounds that cost them both Carrick goals, the opener in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time when Stevie Scott slipped on the edge of the penalty box and let in Danny Gibson for his 11th goal of the season, and on the hour, goalkeeper Declan Devine bringing down Gibson and David Cushley scoring from the penalty spot.

But the rest of the match was dominated by Swifts, with Adam Glenny hitting the post and less than a minute later Gael Bigirimana fired home from 20 yards with 20 minutes still to play.

The pressure on the home defence intensified when Kurtis Forsythe was shown a straight red card in the 81st minute for a studs up challenge on Leo Alves but, despite constant pressure, the equaliser never