SWIFTS OFF AND RUNNING UNDER SHIELS
Dungannon Swifts picked up their first points under Dean Shiels with victory over Crusaders at Stangmore Park.
Both sides were restricted largely to half chances during the opening exchanges before, on 31 minutes, Swifts keeper Sam Johnston produced a superb stop to deny Jamie McGonigle as the Crusaders man shot on the turn.
Then, at the other, Jonny Tuffey pulled off a double save to thwart Matthew Smyth and then Ryan Mayse's follow-up.
Indeed, the Swifts finished the first half the stronger and duly moved in front on 43 minutes after a Michael Carvill reached Callum Byers at the back post with the ball coming off the central defender and trickling over the net.
And it was 2-0 just after the hour when Rory Patterson sent an unstoppable free-kick beyond his fellow former international Tuffey, giving the Crues keeper no chance.
He might had added a third on a couple of occasions after that, one effort curling just wide with another cannoning back off the crossbar.
Crusaders pulled one back with just under a quarter-of-an-hour remaining courtesy of a close range McGonigle header after Paul Heatley's initial effort had been parried by Sam Johnston.
Carvill had the ball in the net at the other end soon after but his finish under Tuffey was adjudged to be offside while, in stoppage time, Ross Clarke almost grabbed a late equaliser only for the ball to strike an upright.
Dungannon Swifts: Johnston, Wilson, Byers, O. Smyth, Campbell, Carvill, Mayse, Glenny, McGee, M. Smyth, Patterson subs Byrne (not used), Hughes (replaced Patterson 83), Patton (not used), Gallagher (not used), McGinty (replaced O. Smyth 83), Convie (not used), Teelan (replaced Mayse 90+2)
Crusaders: Tuffey, Burns, Lowry, McGonigle, Cushley, Caddell, Ruddy, Owens, Brown, McGinley, Larmour subs O'Neill (not used), Wilson (not used), Weir (not used), Kennedy (not used), Lecky (replaced Owens 61), Heatley (replaced Cushley 61), Clarke (replaced McGinley 46)
Substitution 
Substitution 
