Linfield and Dungannon fought out an entertaining 2-2 draw at a misty Stangmore Park this afternoon. In a match that had four goals, a sending off as well as two manager dismissals, the sizeable crowd at the Co. Tyrone ground were treated to a feast of drama.
With only 6 minutes on the clock, Dungannon could have taken an early lead. Former Linfield player Timmy Adamson flicked the ball on to Ryan McIlmoyle who was hugging the left hand touch line. McIlmoyle slid the ball into the box towards Shane Cone but just as the Dungannon striker looked destined to score, Stuart Addis rushed out of goal to smother the ball at his feet.
Linfield should have taken the lead on 9 minutes. Michael Carvill swung over a corner from the left and Stephen Douglas could only direct his free header from six yards wide of Niall Morgan's left hand post.
Jim Ervin was next to try his luck after the ball fell kindly for him inside the box. His shot though, failed to beat the line of Dungannon players on the line and the ball was cleared to eventual safety.
Stuart Addis pulled off a wonderful save on 25 minutes. Neill McCafferty's super free kick from 25 yards looked destined for the back of the net, but the Linfield keeper srambled back in the nick of time to tip the ball over the bar.
Addis was in the thick of the action again on 29 minutes. The ball fell fortuitously to Shane Coney inside the Linfield penalty area and an outstretched Addis did brilliantly well to tip the ball behind for a corner kick as the striker attempted to find the bottom right hand corner.
Following a neat through ball by Paul Munster on the half hour mark, Jamie Mulgrew poked the ball past Niall Morgan only to see his effort rebound back off the post. The rebound fell to Billy Joe Burns whose shot was well blocked by a defender. The ball landed at the feet of Michael Carvill, but the Linfield winger was unable to beat the Swifts man on the line.
Kris Lindsay headed another chance for Linfield over the bar on 31 minutes before Niall Morgan became the Swifts first half hero. A minute after Lindsay's effort, Mark Miskimmin ran through on goal and when one on one with Morgan, the keeper manager to pull off a superb acrobatic save to deny the young Linfield striker the opening goal of the game.
Half Time: Dungannon Swifts 0 - 0 Linfield
Linfield again paid the price for loss of concentration at the start of the second half. After only 3 minutes of play after the interval, Shane Coney was able to get his shot away inside the box, beating Stuart Addis at his bottom left hand post.
Linfield could've drawn level on 53 minutes. Damien Curran's cross from the left was headed up in the air by Michael Gault, and substitute Mark McAllister who had only been on the field of play for two minutes appeared to have his shirt pulled as he volleyed high over the bar from close range.
Things went from bad to worse for Linfield on 61 minutes. Former Linfield striker Timmy Adamson danced round a static Blues' defence before slotting the ball past the helpless Addis from just inside the penalty area.
A beautiful move by Linfield almost pulled a goal back on 65 minutes. Michael Gault did well on the left before crossing with the outside of his right boot. Mark McAllister met the cross but his header was well over Niall Morgan's cross bar.
Linfield didn't have to wait long though for their first goal of the game. Billy Joe Burns floated a magnificent cross in from the right and Paul Munster headed home unmarked to start the Linfield fight back.
Dungannon's luck changed on 69 minutes. Former Linfield Swifts player Andrew Ferguson committed a reckless foul on Jamie Mulgrew, taking the midfielder's ankles from behind and although referee David Malcolm initially only showed the yellow card, after consultation with his official on the near side of the pitch, he brandished the red card to the Dungannon midfielder.
In the mellet that followed the dismissal, both David Jeffrey and Dungannon's Dixie Robinson received their marching orders.
The game was beginning to bubble. On 73 minutes, Jamie Mulgrew attempted the spectacular. His half volley from 23 yards looked to be destined for the back of the net only for it to rise at the last moment and clear the crossbar. Linfield got the equaliser their performance had warranted on 87 minutes. Phil Lowry floated in a beautiful corner kick from the left and Stephen Douglas leapt highest to power his header past Niall Morgan.
Despite late Linfield pressure and a late miss by Coney, Linfield held on to finish the game at parity with their hosts. Indeed both sets of supporters were treated to another cracking and eagerly contested game of football.
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