Irish Premiership: Ards 2-3 Dungannon Swifts

Two first-half goals from Darren Boyce helped Dungannon Swifts hold off Ards in the Premiership clash.

Boyce put the Swifts ahead on three minutes and he doubled the advantage on 18 with Matt Hazley again the provider.

Ards were back in the game on 47 minutes as Neil Dougan's cross was allowed to go all the way into the net.

Hazley's 71st-minute penalty restored Dungannon's two-goal advantage but he was then sent off after Mark McClelland had scored Ards's second goal.

However despite some late Ards pressure at Clandeboye Park, Dungannon held on to take the three points which moved them above Ballinamallard into seventh place in the table.

Boyce hit his opening goal in the third minute after a neat lay-off by Hazley but the Swifts then had an escape as Ards defender Andy Hunter hit the woodwork with a 25-yard free-kick.

After the escape, Dungannon doubled their lead with Boyce notching his second after a Hazley cross.

Dungannon could have increased their advantage before the break with Ards keeper Graeme McKibbin reacting well to deny David McCullough and Hazley.

However, Ards were back in the game two minutes after the restart as Dougan's cross flew straight into the net.

As Ards continued to press, Hunter and Ryan Henderson went close to levelling but Dungannon were back in control on 71 minutes as Hazley slotted a spot-kick after Stephen McCullough had been adjudged to have brought down Stefan Lavery.

McClelland's 79th-minute goal gave Ards hope of snatching something from the game but despite losing Hazley after his second yellow card, the Swifts held on to take the three points.