Wasted opportunities cost us, says Dungannon Swifts boss Rodney McAree

Dungannon Swifts 0 Ballymena United 1

Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree lamented wasted opportunities in their defeat to Ballymena United

Frustrated Rodney McAree admits Dungannon have to be a lot more clinical in front of goal after wasting a big chance to pull clear of trouble.

They missed a host of opportunities against Ballymena and were punished when teenager Noah Stewart came off the bench to win it for the Sky Blues three minutes from the end.

McAree said: “I don’t think we’re ever going to go into a match and expect to create as many opportunities as we did today.

“It’s an absolute kick in the teeth because I thought overall we played reasonably well and we created chances.

“Unfortunately, their goalkeeper was in inspired form. It’s just frustrating, but we have to accept it and move on.

“If we play every game this season the way we played today, we will be okay, but we have to be more ruthless.

“This game is about what happens in the two 18-yard boxes. We haven’t done enough in theirs, and they got an opportunity in ours and took it.”

The goal came in the 87th minute as Ballymena punished a lapse in concentration in the Swifts’ back-line.

Substitute Alex Gawne’s cross to the far post was touched back by Fraser Taylor, and Stewart couldn’t miss, slotting home from a couple of yards out. Dungannon created their own problems, with a wayward goal-kick inviting possession and too many players caught out of position.

They also paid for all those missed chances, with Ballymena goalkeeper Sean O’Neill pulling off a series of big saves.

They included a first-half penalty from Kealan Dillon, plus efforts from Ethan Devine and Ethan McGee.

Dungannon are now one of four sides at the bottom separated by just a point.