Dungannon Swifts' impressive early season form continued with a fourth win on the bounce thanks to a 2-0 win over struggling Limavady United.

Leo Alves' free-kick in the first half and a close range header from Junior after the break were enough to take the Swifts top of the Irish Premiership ahead of Coleraine's match against Crusaders on Saturday evening.

The lively Alves curled home from the edge of the penalty area on the half hour despite Marty Gallagher getting a hand to the set-piece before the United keeper was left disappointed again when Junior bundled in the second on 68 minutes.

Limavady United new boy Jamie McGonigle, who was handed his debut after joining on loan from Coleraine on deadline day, went close on a couple of occasions but the Roesiders finished the day still looking for their first points of the season.

It was a lively start as United's Ronan Wilson had a goal-bound effort blocked away for a corner in the first minute before Shea Gordon lashed a volley over the bar at the other end minutes later.

Marty Gallagher was off his line quickly to deny Sean McAllister on six minutes as the visitors opened up the Roesiders for the first time.

Gallagher was called into action again on 17 minutes as he got down well to field a low drive from Alves after Paul Doyle had created the opening.

The hosts should have edged in front in the 22nd minute as John Butcher cut through the Swifts rearguard before teeing up McGonigle, but the Coleraine loanee was denied a debut goal in his new colours by Declan Dunne's strong right hand.

That save was to prove vital as within eight minutes the visitors had broken the deadlock as Alves' free-kick from the edge of the found the net despite Gallagher getting a hand to the ball.

The Roesiders keeper redeemed himself on 38 minutes as he tipped over Cahal McGinty's dipping effort from 25 yards out as the Swifts went in search of a second.

Limavady United went agonisingly close to levelling matters on 52 minutes as Kieran Farren got on the end of Danny Lafferty's free-kick, but his header clipped the top of the crossbar.

The Roesiders continued to push and went close again before the hour mark as Alfie Gaston played in Philip Lowry. His shot was only parried by Dunne, but Gaston couldn't direct the rebound into the goal.

The chances kept coming with McGonigle and Junior both going close. The Swifts frontman wasn't to be denied though as he doubled the visitors lead on 68 minutes bundling homes the loose ball after McAllister's initial effort was parried by Gallagher in the home goal.

Andrew Mitchell and Corey Smith both went close to adding to the Swifts' tally before the end but by then the points were already secured.

Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree: "I think it's the first time we have kept four clean sheets in-a-row in the topflight.

"We tried to search through the archives, but I don't think it's ever been done before. Maybe somebody can prove me wrong in that, but it's the first time in our history.

"We've got to take huge satisfaction out of that. We just have to try and keep going. We have a tough one coming up against Linfield next, if we keep a clean sheet, we'll be very, very happy."

Limavady United manager Paul Owens: "There's no pats on the back this week. It's got to the point now I'm sick of giving pats on the back. The boys are positive and so am I, but I'm just getting a little bit bored of losing games of football.

"I've never lost back-to-back before this season and now, we've started with four defeats. We've been very competitive in all the games.

"Every manager is saying, 'you're doing well and you'll be perfectly fine', but I need points on the board. I'll never relax on it, obviously, but I just need points on the board as soon as I can."