Linfield have – temporarily at least – re-established their eight-point lead at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership as a result of this afternoon’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Portadown at Windsor Park.
It was just the result Blues boss David Healy would have wanted as his team showed bouncebackability following last week’s disappointing 1-0 defeat to Glentoran in the derby at The Oval. There were two changes to the starting eleven today; Matthew Orr – who returned from International duty – and Euan East, returning from injury, both came into the team in place of the inured Josh Archer, and Dane McCullough who dropped to the bench against his home-town team. Rhys Annett also dropped out of the squad in a fresh injury blow but, on the plus side, long-term absentees Ben Hall and Stephen Fallon both made the bench. It was the first time this season that Hall had made the matchday squad, whilst Fallon hadn’t featured since his cameo away to Ballymena United on the opening day of the season.
Portadown proved tough opposition which was expected given the newly-promoted team are currently riding high in fourth position having pulled off some real scalps this season. Fresh from a 1-0 derby in front of a sold-out Shamrock Park last week, the Ports came into the match on a high. That said, they were without three important players; Shay McCartan, who missed out through injury, Gary Thompson who was ruled out through suspension having picked up an injury-time booking last week which was his fifth of the season, and right full-back Lee Chapman who was out through inury.
The 2-2 draw against Linfield at Shamrock Park at the end of August will have given the Ports some self-belief going into this match and that showed in a first half where they had the better of the chances. That said, despite the Blues lacking cutting edge in the first half, they did go close in the opening ten minutes when Joel Cooper’s deflected cross looped up over the goalkeeper and across the face of goal.
Cameron Ballantyne also had a good chance when another Cooper cross was deflected before landing kindly at the feet of the Scottish midfielder, but Portadown ‘keeper McCarey was off his line quickly to narrow the angle and make the save at close range. McCarey also saved in stoppage time at the end of the first half when Scot Whiteside met Kirk Millar’s quality cross from the left with a glancing header.
However it was Linfield goalkeeper David Walsh who was the busier in the first half. Portadown were particularly dangerous from corners, of which they had quite a few. Walsh denied his hometown team twice in quick succession in the 20th minute of the match. The Blues were unable to deal with a corner which lead to the ball coming back in to the unmarked Ryan Mayse who struck well on the volley. Walsh saved with his chest before the ball came back in with defender Baris Altintop hitting one on the turn which drew another good save as Walsh pushed the effort over the crossbar. Larne loanee Altintop later threatened again from a corner, but this time was denied by an important block from young Linfield defender Matthew Orr.
HT: Linfield 0-0 Portadown
Portadown boss Niall Currie would have been the happier manager at half-time, but both managers made changes at the break. Jay Riley replaced Douglas Wilson at right-back for the Ports, whilst Chris McKee replaced Cameron Ballantyne in an attack-minded Linfield substitution which led to an improvement from the Blues in the second half.
This change from David Healy proved to be an inspired, match-winning decision as Chris McKee made an immediate impact, scoring a minute after coming on. A classy backheel from Matthew Fitzpatrick unlocked the Ports’ defence to put Kirk Millar in and he unselfishly squared it for McKee to fire the ball in from close range.
Then, in the 48th minute, McKee struck again. Jamie Mulgrew’s through ball fed the well-timed run of Matthew Fitzpatrick in behind before he cut the ball back to McKee who fired the ball low into the goal again, with a similar finish from a similar position to that of his first goal. Remarkably, McKee had scored twice with his first two touches on the pitch within three minutes of coming on. They were his fourth and fifth goals of the season.
Portadown were typically resilient and continued to push forward at 2-0, and they almost pulled a goal back just a minute after the Blues’ second goal, as midfielder Ryan Mayse did well to fend off a defender and get a shot off which forced a good save from David Walsh at his near post.
The Blues had an opportunity to counter-attack a while later as Ethan McGee surged forward from deep before being chopped down on the edge of Portadown’s box. Kirk Millar struck the resulting free-kick and fired not far wide of the goal.
In the 62nd minute it looked sure that Portadown were going to reduce the deficit when a cross from the right was met by striker Ahu Obhakhan who got great purchase on his header, only for Walsh to somehow tip it over the crossbar. Another Ports attacker, Josh Ukek, also threatened when he cut in from the left onto his stronger right foot and hit a strike which almost took Walsh by surprise, but this time he made the save with his foot.
In the 76th minute, Linfield midfielder Stephen Fallon made a long-awaited return from injury replacing captain Jamie Mulgrew who’d taken a knock a short time beforehand in a tackle from Portadown’s Jack Henderson. However, Mulgrew had been on a booking following an altercation with Portadown’s Ben Wylie, and after Mulgrew sat down on the bench, the referee marched over to send him off via a second yellow card for something he said to the fourth official on his way off.
This, along with several other decisions, created an air of frustration inside the ground and there was a real edge to the closing stages of the match. Portadown deserved a goal for their efforts and they got one to give them renewed hope in the 83rd minute. The referee eventually awarded Portadown a free-kick after mulling over the appeals for a high foot against Ethan McGee, and the Ports scored from the free-kick as Eamon Fyfe’s swerving strike from distance was parried by Walsh and converted on the rebound by substitute Paul McElroy.
Just seconds after the fourth official signalled a minimum of six additional minutes to play, Linfield had a strong penalty appeal turned down as Joel Cooper got goalside of a defender inside the box before going down with shouts of a push in the back of the Blues’ attacker, but referee Ross Dunlop didn’t see enough in it to warrant a penalty.
The Ports gave it everything but the Blues’ management of the match after conceding was very much on point and ultimately it was a pleasing three points against a team whose results reflect that they’re a spirited team who consistently play to the final whistle.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Blues now as they get ready to take on rivals Glentoran in the Bet McLean League Cup at Windsor Park on Tuesday evening, as David Healy’s team look to continue to defend the trophy they’ve lifted in the two previous seasons.
FT: Linfield 2-1 Portadown
Linfieldfc.com Man of the Match: David Walsh
Written by Jamie Megarry