Dungannon Swifts players celebrate own goalPress Eye

Dungannon Swifts recorded their first win at The Oval since 2019

Stephen Alexander
BBC Sport NI contributor

Glentoran suffered their first home league defeat of the season as Dungannon Swifts claimed a 1-0 win at The Oval.

James Singleton's own goal settled a dour game as Glentoran missed the opportunity to close the gap on leaders Coleraine.

The home side also finished with 10 men as second half substitute Jonny Russell was shown a straight red card just six minutes after coming on.

The win sees Dungannon leapfrog Linfield and into fourth place in the league table.

Swifts edge past Glens

Highlights: Glentoran v Dungannon Swifts

There was a scarcity of goalmouth action in a forgettable opening 45 minutes, with the only effort on goal at either end a tame header from Dungannon's Cahal McGinty which was straight at Glentoran goalkeeper Andrew Mills.

As the rain worsened in the second half, Glentoran went close when the ball broke kindly for Danny Amos and his snapshot fizzed narrowly over the crossbar.

At the other end, McGinty again connected with a Knowles free-kick, but his header dropped onto the top of the Glentoran net.

Glentoran almost went in front in fortuitous circumstances as Tiarnan Kelly almost diverted Danny Amos' corner into his own net, but Declan Dunne scooped the ball clear off the goal-line.

The home side also had penalty appeals waved away after a robust challenge by Danny Wallace on Singleton inside the area.

The deadlock was eventually broken on 68 minutes when Knowles' corner was inadvertently headed into his own net by Singleton, with keeper Mills unable to scramble the ball clear at the post.

The Swifts almost doubled their advantage when Sean McAllister's curling effort was tipped over the crossbar by Mills.

It went from bad to worse for Glentoran on 78 minutes as substitute Rusell was shown a straight red card by referee Shane Andrews after deliberately bringing down Steven Scott to halt a Dungannon counter-attack.