SWIFTS HOLD ON TO MOVE SECOND
Dungannon Swifts moved back into second spot in the standings with victory over Loughgall at Stangmore Park.
The Swifts took control of the game right at the start, forcing a number of early corners, before moving in front on 19 minutes when Leo Alves sent over a corner which skipper Dean Curry did well to connect to and direct a powerful header past keeper Nathan Gartside.
And Rodney McAree's side might have doubled their advantage a few minutes from the break after Tomas Galvin delivered a ball into the box for the unmarked Andrew Mitchell to test Gartside with a header.
Dungannon looked to strengthen their hold on the game early in the second half with Andrew Mitchell seeing an effort kept out by Gartside for a corner.
But, at the other end, the Villagers were in search of the equaliser and might have found it on the hour when Adam Towe looked to have found the net only for Alves to get a touch to turn the ball out for a corner, with that subsequent set piece denied by Dunne.
However Swifts bagged their second when, on 66 minutes, John McGovern latched onto a through ball to keep his composure and slot past Gartside into the bottom corner.
Loughgall hit back with four minutes remaining to set up a nervous finish for the Swifts when Jay Boyd connected with a cross at the near post to send a header beyond keeper Declan Dunne.
They could have sensationally levelled not long after that only for Lewis Francis to send a header just wide while, at the other end, Kealan Dillon teed Steven Scott up to crash an effort off the crossbar.
Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, Scott, Curry, McGovern, Alves, Glenny, McGinty, Galvin, Wallace, Mitchell, Bigirimana subs King, Knowles, Dillon, Boyd, Solis Grogan, Hutchinson, McAleese
Loughgall: Gartside, Rea, Murdock, Andrade, Ferris, Norton, Gibson, Balde, Francis, Towe, McCloskey subs Turkey, McAleer, Cartwright, Boyd, Harvey, Kelly, Teggart
Substitution 
Substitution 
