Linfield made it three wins from three in the League with a 3-0 win over Portadown at Windsor Park this afternoon, although it didn’t come without controversy as the Ports voiced complaints as to whether the Blues’ second goal crossed the line.
New signings Isaac Baird and Sam Taylor both made their League debuts for the Blues. Jamie Mulgrew, Alex Gorrin, Cammy Ballantyne and Robbie McDaid all missed out through injury. Meanwhile, Matthew Fitzpatrick marked his 100th Linfield appearance with a brace.
The Ports came into the match with six points from their opening five League matches, having beaten Dungannon Swifts (1-4) and Crusaders (1-2) either side of defeats to Glentoran (0-1), Ballymena United (0-2) and Larne (4-0).
The second half of today’s match at Windsor Park was electrifying at times, but the first half was more of a slow burner. The Blues were frustrated in the first half as, despite dominating possession of the ball, they struggled to break down Portadown who were well drilled.
Fitzpatrick was inches away from getting a telling touch on Euan East’s cross from the left in the opening five minutes, and then he went close to scoring in the ninth minute when he drove from deep and, with no real other option available, he took a pop at goal from 25 yards with a low strike which was pushed around the post by Portadown ‘keeper McCarey.
Openings were few and far between in the first half. On one occasion, Fitzpatrick found Offord inside the box and he did well to put the ball into a great position on the edge of the six-yard box, but there was nobody in a blue shirt following in, otherwise they’d have had a tap-in. Offord did as well as he possibly could have.
Other than that, the Blues were limited to a few shots from distance, with Sean Brown firing just over and Offord seeing a shot deflected wide of the post after cutting inside from the left.
Plus, at the tail end of the first half, Kirk Millar’s corner kick delivery almost went directly into the net as it struck the crossbar before going behind for a goalkick.
HT: LINFIELD 0-0 PORTADOWN
The Blues stepped up the gears in the second half. There was more urgency and that was rewarded with a breakthrough eight minutes after the break as Sean Brown’s deep cross from the right found Tranmere Rovers’ loanee Sam Taylor peeling around the back to volley in across the goalkeeper for the winger’s first goal in a Linfield shirt.
The opening goal gave Linfield a real lift and seemed to release some tension. However, Portadown also responded really well and with intent as a basketball match broke out. The Blues almost doubled their lead within two minutes as Isaac Baird burst past Ports’ left-back Jamie Rea before squaring it to Fitzpatrick whose shot went just wide of the upright.
Then, Portadown had two big chances within a couple of minutes. Firstly, one straight, long ball was allowed to travel through the heart of the Linfield spine and put James Teelan through on goal, but Chris Johns calculated his angles to perfection and made a smart save.
Shortly after, Portadown striker Ahu Obhakhan challenged Ben Hall inside the box, and the ball fell for Ports’ attacker Eamon Fyfe whose shot was crucially blocked by Chris Shields before Steven McCullough hooked over the rebound with his weaker right foot at close range.
Kieran Offord showed tremendous trickery up the other end before he was denied what would have been a superb solo goal by Portadown goalkeeper McCarey at close range.
Then came the big talking point…
Linfield broke swiftly as Kyle McClean sent Kirk Millar through on goal, and he fizzed in a low square ball for Matthew Fitzpatrick who shot first-time at close range. Portadown ‘keeper Aaron McCarey scooped the ball out, but the linesman raised his flag instantly to signal that the ball had crossed the line in the process. Portadown players and staff protested the decision passionately, but the goal stood after a brief discussion between referee and linesman. 2-0.
The goal was a big one as the game had been finely poised and both teams were going at it hammer and tong in the lead-up to the goal. In the words of Portadown manager Niall Currie, the second goal was a balloon-pincher.
But Portadown, to their credit, kept going, and almost reduced the arrears within a few minutes as Eamon Fyfe got down the left and hammered across a tantalising low cross, from which Sam Taylor made a terrific goal-saving challenge at the back post to prevent a Portadown attacker getting there and most likely turning it in.
The Blues almost sealed the win 20 minutes before the end as Kieran Offord beat several players before going through on goal, but McCarey stood him up and made a stop. Kirk Millar followed in and chipped the ball over the ‘keeper, but Ben Wylie was backtracking and managed to head the ball off the line.
The elusive third goal then arrived on 77 minutes as Kieran Offord knocked the ball beyond Portadown defender Altintop, before fending him off and squaring it for Fitzpatrick who swept the ball across the goalkeeper into the far corner for his second of the day and his fourth goal of the season.
Kieran Offord was denied twice more before the end – he unfortunately didn’t get the goal he deserved, but that’s nine points out of a possible nine, seven goals scored and none conceded, so a pleasing start for the champions.
However, a trip to The Oval beckons next Friday evening for the Blues’ first away match of the season against Glentoran who are currently top of the Premiership with 16 points from 6 games played, so that’ll be a challenge but a derby that’s well poised.
FT: LINFIELD 3-0 PORTADOWN
Linfieldfc.com Man of the Match: Sean Brown
LINFIELD: Chris Johns (GK), Ben Hall, Euan East, Sean Brown, Chris Shields ©, Isaac Baird (Josh Archer 67’), Kyle McClean (Chris McKee 83’), Kirk Millar (Charlie Allen 83’), Sam Taylor (Callumn Morrison 75’), Matthew Fitzpatrick (Matt Yates 83’), Kieran Offord
Unused subs: David Walsh (GK), Sam Roscoe
PORTADOWN: Aaron McCarey (GK), Lee Chapman, Baris Altintop, Lewis MacKinnon, Jamie Rea (Rayhaan Tulloch 75’), Gary Thompson (Luke Wilson 87’), Ben Wylie, Eamon Fyfe (Jordan Gibson 87’), Steven McCullough, James Teelan, Ahu Obhakhan (Tabu Rabby Minzamba 71’)
Unused subs: Alex Moore (GK), Divin Isamala, Jordan Gibson, Ryan Mayse
REFEREE: Declan Hassan