Linfield moved top of the Sports Direct Premiership – for tonight at least – following a 3-1 win over basement side Loughgall at Lakeview Park this evening.
Suspended manager David Healy watched from a balcony overlooking one of the nets after naming a Linfield eleven that was unchanged from last week’s 3-2 win over Crusaders at Seaview. The lengthy injury list was shortened slightly this week as Jamie Mulgrew and Dane McCullough returned to take seats on the bench.
With five points from their opening twelve fixtures, it’s been a tough start to the season for the men from the Orchard County after a very impressive campaign last year as a newly-promoted team. Despite Loughgall’s struggles, Linfield knew to expect a tough game, having had to fight hard for their two victories (2-0 & 2-1) at Lakeview Park last season.
This was no different, although the Blues were excellent in the first half and should have put the game beyond Loughgall. Joel Cooper was untouchable in the first half – he caused Loughgall all sorts of problems and his strong effort inside the first minute set the tone.
There were several missed chances early on, with Fitzpatrick heading wide from a good position before turning provider as he put one on a plate for Kyle McClean to storm in at close range before being denied by the feet of the home goalkeeper. Joel Cooper fired the rebound wide of goal, and he had a 25-yard strike well held soon after.
The Blues then took a deserved lead in the 15th minute and what a way to do it. Joel Cooper picked the ball up on the right touchline and showed good balance and footwork to fend off multiple defenders which opened up a bit of room for a cross or shot. Nobody would have foreseen that Cooper would unleash a goal-of-the-season contender as he curled a wonderful strike into the far top corner for his ninth goal of the season.
David Healy’s men then struck again to double their lead just 63 seconds later. A quick break saw Kyle McClean find Matthew Fitzpatrick down the right and he fizzed a low cross in to Kirk Millar who took a touch at the back post area before squeezing a low strike past the goalkeeper for his fourth goal of the season.
17 minutes into the match, it was one-way traffic and looking like a question of how many. Home goalkeeper Nathan Gartside made a number of good saves. That said, Loughgall’s first chance that came in the 26th minute was a great opportunity to get themselves back in the game, but striker Jay Boyd headed wide from a great position after being picked out by Jamie Rea’s left-wing cross.
Joel Cooper then had an opportunity to extend the Blues’ advantage to three before the interval – he went through on goal courtesy of Kirk Millar’s neat threaded pass, but the winger tried to outfox the goalkeeper, who anticipated Cooper’s chipped effort. In hindsight, he’ll wish he’d stuck his foot through it.
Cooper had a penalty appeal turned down before half-time. He’d broke goal-side of a defender inside the box before feeling a push in the back and went down, but play continued. At the time, with Linfield 2-0 up and comfortable there wasn’t too much noise about it, but fast-forward an hour or so and it became more of a talking point.
Loughgall central defender Ben Murdock was facing hamstring concerns during the first half and had to be replaced by Conor Kerr before half-time.
HT: Loughgall 0-2 Linfield
The Blues were forced into a half-time change as Euan East had to be withdrawn. Subsequently, Ethan McGee shifted to left-back and Cammy Ballantyne came on in central midfield. The other thing which changed was the Blues’ level of performance as their second half showing didn’t come close to that of the first half.
Understandably, Loughgall came out fighting. They had nothing to lose. They became much more of an attacking threat shortly after the hour-mark, with the introduction of striker Nathaniel Ferris whose hold-up play gave them a real platform.
The Loughgall striker was only on the pitch for three minutes before he won his side a penalty. A tantalising cross from left-back Jamie Rea was put into ‘the corridor of uncertainty’ and attacked by Ferris who went down upon a touch in the back by Ethan McGee. Ferris stepped up to hammer the ball low down the middle and give his team a lifeline. The award of the penalty disappointed some in Linfield colours who questioned how it was a different outcome than a very similar situation where Cooper was denied a penalty in the first half.
The Blues were struggling to create in the second half. Their only real efforts were opportunist ones, with Scot Whiteside having an ambitious bicycle kick attempt saved following a corner, and Kirk Millar volleying not far wide from Cooper’s lofted pass – it would have been a terrific goal.
Loughgall threw everything at it late on, with one scare for the Blues in the 90th minute as Chris Johns was unable to catch a deep cross into his box. The Blues were let off the hook as Loughgall substitute Connor McCloskey put wide from an improbable angle, when he should have put the ball back into the box.
Linfield’s double substitution in the 78th minute proved efficient as Jamie Mulgrew and Charlie Allen replaced Kirk Millar and Josh Archer. Mulgrew won the Blues free-kick in good areas which helped disrupt Loughgall’s pressure, and Allen scored the match-clinching goal in the 92nd minute. Fresh from International duty, the youngster netted his second Linfield goal and it was another wonderful goal. He got the ball in the top left corner before turning the Loughgall defenders inside out, cutting inside before burying the ball in the far corner, much to the relief of the Linfield supporters.
Loughgall’s goalkeeper coach was sent off after the final whistle.
1100 was the attendance at Lakeview Park.
Up next for Linfield is a home League match against Cliftonville next Saturday October 26.
FT: Loughgall 1-3 Linfield
Written by Jamie Megarry