A strong second-half display ensured Linfield overcame a stubborn Carrick Rangers at Windsor Park this afternoon as the Blues recorded a sixth consecutive clean sheet and moved 12 points clear at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership.
The Blues were expecting a tough challenge from the visitors who’d only lost two of Stephen Baxter’s first 12 matches in charge; one of which was against Linfield at Taylors Avenue in November.
David Healy was without Chris Shields who was serving a one-match suspension, and injured duo Stephen Fallon and Jamie Mulgrew, therefore Kirk Millar captained the team. Sam Roscoe returned from suspension. Longer term absentees Ben Hall and Darragh McBrien remain sidelined.
Linfield were very dominant in terms of first half possession. Carrick were happy to let the Blues have the ball as they focused on defending deep and in numbers. Their low block proved difficult to break down in the first half, leading to a fairly uneventful first 45 minutes.
The visitors’ only real threat came on the counter-attack in the opening ten minutes. Baxter’s men broke in a 3v3 scenario, and although Euan East’s did well to get a touch on Paul Heatley’s through ball intended for Danny Gibson, the ball still sat nicely for the forward on the edge of the box, but he fired straight at David Walsh from a good position.
The Blues tried to move Carrick around but on occasion when they did get into good areas in the first half, the decision making or execution wasn’t quite on the money. One such occasion was when Joel Cooper stylishly flicked the ball into Kirk Millar in space inside the box, but he blazed wide of goal when in hindsight he’ll probably wish he’d drove it across the box in search of one of his teammates.
Linfield’s best two chances of the half came in quick succession in the final few minutes before the break. Firstly, Charlie Allen’s cross from the left found Matthew Fitzpatrick whose header were brilliantly saved by former Blues ‘keeper Ross Glendinning who acrobatically tipped it over the bar. Then, within a minute later, another cross from the left found Matthew Orr who was unlucky to see his glancing header flash agonisingly wide of the far post.
HT: Linfield 0-0 Carrick Rangers
On Carrick Rangers’ last trip to Windsor Park back in September, the Blues were frustrated until Kirk Millar saved the day with a free-kick to win it six minutes and 35 seconds into seven additional minutes. David Healy wouldn’t have wanted to go through the stress of that again today, so he’d have been wanting a fast start to the second half, and indeed that’s what he got.
The deadlock was broken in the 49th minute courtesy of Joel Cooper who scored his 14th goal of the season. The attacker picked up the ball on the right, shimmied past the full-back to burst into the box and slid the ball across the ‘keeper and into the far corner. It was almost identical to his last goal which came against Coleraine on December 20. It was just the spark that the Blues had been needing, and laid a platform to kick on.
But although the Blues certainly did kick on and played some excellent football in the second half, it must also be noted that at 1-0 – just a minute after the opening goal – Cammy Ballantyne made an important block. A long throw-in landed kindly for Carrick’s Paul Heatley just inside the box and he struck it sweetly on the volley, however Ballantyne bravely threw his body on the line, otherwise it was heading fiercely towards goal.
Five minutes after the opening goal, Linfield then doubled their lead. It came from Matthew Orr’s cross from the right which landed for Cammy Ballantyne but his shot was blocked before he classily slipped the ball through to overlapping fellow Scotsman, Euan East who drilled the ball in low and hard for his first goal of the season. It helped East to the Man of the Match award, and it typified an impressive performance from Ballantyne. A well-worked goal.
The Blues found themselves suddenly looking like scoring on every attack. They were in their groove and playing with confidence. Ross Glendinning made a save to beat away a left-footed volley from Kirk Millar at 2-0.
Linfield then went 3-0 ahead in the 66th minute with a lovely goal. Joel Cooper played a good through ball to Kirk Millar down the right and he crossed an inch-perfect delivery into Matthew Fitzpatrick whose first-time finish was also on point as he clinically side-footed the ball into the far corner. A good week for the forward after signing a two-year contract extension, and he’s now in good form with 6 goals in his last 5 appearances.
Fitzpatrick was a matter of inches away from scoring again a few minutes later. Cooper raced into space down the left before fizzing the ball across the face of goal, but Fitzpatrick couldn’t quite get the contact. Kirk Millar ghosted in to retrieve it at the back post and hammer it back across the face of goal, but Carrick captain McCullough did well to get there ahead of Fitzpatrick.
Blues forward Fitzpatrick threatened again when a brilliant Linfield move ended with Charlie Allen sliding the forward through on goal before he took time to set himself to shoot, however defender Buchanan-Rolleston managed to block it on the face of goal. The defender was then involved again a few minutes later as Cooper went down inside the box from his challenge, but much to Cooper’s annoyance, no penalty was given.
Although David Walsh had a comfortable enough afternoon, the visitors’ threat did increase a bit late in the match once substitute David Cushley was introduced. Firstly, he almost scored directly from a corner which was punched away by Walsh. Incidentally, Cushley tried the same thing in the last meeting between the two teams; on that occasion he hit the post. In this match he also put Heatley through on goal with a wonderful long pass, but the winger’s touch was loose which allowed Walsh to pounce.
Three points, a sixth consecutive clean sheet and three goals that were all excellent in their own right; David Healy can be pleased with this afternoon’s work.
Attention now turns to a trip to Portadown next Saturday. The Ports currently sit fourth in the table and, given the Blues were held to a draw at Shamrock Park at the end of August, the Blues will not be under any illusions; a tough game is expected.
Linfieldfc.com Man of the Match: Euan East
FT: Linfield 3-0 Carrick Rangers
Written by Jamie Megarry