Rodney McAree admitted Dungannon Swifts made it difficult for themselves after surviving a late scare against Loughgall.
They looked to be cruising after taking a 2-0 lead against the League’s bottom side but, having missed a series of chances to make it even more comfortable, they were rocked by Jay Boyd’s late goal and were in the end relieved to hear the final whistle.
McAree admitted it should never have got to that.
“We made it difficult for ourselves and we made it harder than it should have been,” he said. “The game should have been dead and buried — we should have been out of sight. To be fair to Loughgall, they stayed in it and forced a goal late on, which put us on the back foot, and we rode our luck a little.
“Loughgall could have stolen a point, but it would have been more a case of us handing them that point.”
The win, after goals from Dean Curry and John McGovern, takes Dungannon back up to second as they bounced back from defeats to Linfield and Larne.
McAree admitted the result was the most important thing.
He added: “I think the boys deserve great credit because they played on Monday night against Larne, which took a lot out of everybody, and Linfield last Tuesday.
“We put a lot into those two games without getting any return, when I felt we should have got something.
“To then play a local derby against a side who you know work tirelessly is difficult. So you have to admire our players for grinding out three points. At this stage, it was all about the result.”
But for Loughgall, the bleak midwinter continues after their winless run stretched to seven games.
It has been a difficult end to 2024 and unless their form turns sharply, the prospects of a happy new year look slim.
With Dean Smith serving a touchline ban, assistant boss Andy Smith took charge.
He said: “I thought the players gave everything today. At half-time, we were a bit disappointed not to come in 0-0. With their opening goal, from the corner, we felt there was a foul.
“We had a great chance to make it 1-1 too before Dungannon got their second.”
The Swifts started on the front foot, forcing a series of early corners and one from Leo Alves led to the opener after 19 minutes.
His cross picked out Curry, who was free to guide in a header from six yards.
Dungannon could have been further ahead with Andrew Mitchell seeing two efforts saved by Nathan Gartside either side of the break.
Two big Loughgall chances — Adam Towe’s shot was deflected wide and Robbie Norton’s strike was well saved — reminded them the job wasn’t done.
But they scored again in the 67th minute when Adam Glenny played a lovely cross-field pass, releasing McGovern who cut in and drove home.
Loughgall had won here in October, coming from behind to shock the Swifts, and when they pulled a goal back five minutes from the end, it seemed they might be on for another surprise comeback.
A cross from Caolan McAleer picked out fellow sub Boyd, who headed in.
Cue some home nerves, which only increased when Steven Scott somehow hit the bar from close range when he seemed certain to score.
Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, McGinty, Curry, Wallace, Glenny, Bigirimana, S Scott, McGovern (Dillon 67), Alves (Boyd 80), Galvin (Knowles 67), Mitchell (King 90)
Subs not used: Solis Grogan, Hutchinson, McAleese
Loughgall: Gartside, Rea, Murdock, Francis, Andrade (McAleer 49), Towe (Harvey 86), Norton, McCloskey (D Kelly 90), Balde, Gibson, Ferris (Boyd 46)
Subs not used: Turker, Cartwright, Teggart
Referee: Declan Hassan
Man of the match: John McGovern.
Match rating: 6/10