Linfield suffered their first League defeat of the season tonight as a familiar face came back to haunt the Blues, with former Linfield defender Matthew Clarke’s first-half header enough to seal a 1-0 victory for Ballymena United at The Showgrounds.
It was a night of sheer frustration for the Blues who dominated possession throughout and missed early opportunities to capitalise, and then struggled to break United down after the home team took the lead.
David Healy named an unchanged team from last Friday’s 1-1 derby draw away to Glentoran, and this match followed a similar theme in terms of the Blues not capitalising on early pressure before conceding against the run of play.
On Friday, Glentoran scored in the 21st minute against the run of play. Tonight, Ballymena United also scored in the 21st minute against the run of play. It came about as United midfielder Ben Kennedy was gifted the ball and he lifted a deep cross to the back post where former blue Matthew Clarke was unmarked to head past Chris Johns for his first goal in Sky Blue colours. Johns got his hands to it but couldn’t keep it out.
United had threatened inside the first minute as a loose backpass from Dane McCullough put Success Edogun in, but Ben Hall did well with a goal-saving challenge.
However, it was all Linfield otherwise in the opening 20 minutes. Kieran Offord went close, drawing a good save from Sean O’Neill as his low left-footed strike from inside the box was kept out.
Fitzpatrick was also inches away from a telling touch on McCullough’s tantalising low cross from the left. Soon after, a similar move saw McCullough get high up the pitch to cross and it was flicked on by Fitzpatrick, with the ball landing at the feet of Isaac Baird at the back post, but the midfielder couldn’t get his feet sorted in time and a good chance got away from him.
Kyle McClean had also fired a low free-kick just wide of the post on the goalkeeper’s side of the wall when he had a pop from 20 yards.
The goal gave United something to protect and they did it well. Chances dried up for the Blues, with Jim Ervin’s team more than comfortable to deal with the countless crosses coming into their box.
United could have doubled their lead a few minutes after going ahead, and they probably should have done so as the ball broke kindly for forward Calvin McCurry inside the box, but he fired his effort straight at Chris Johns from a good position.
Success Edogun also threatened on the break for the Sky Blues as he outmuscled Sean Brown to go through on goal, but Chris Johns got out and calculated his angles to perfection to make the save, taking a knock in the process, but he was fine to continue.
HT: BALLYMENA UNITED 1-0 LINFIELD
The second half was more of the same, in terms of the Blues dominating possession but struggling to make a breakthrough, and United’s threat on the break was minimal until the closing stages when Linfield threw bodies forward.
There was a real frustration and an edge to the game fuelled by several decisions as several bookings were issued in a match that was not dirty.
David Healy made several attack-minded changes, but the Blues still couldn’t find the answers in the final third. Their best attempt was when a pass into Fitzpatrick inside the box was teed back to Callumn Morrison, but his effort was blocked at close range.
A cross from Chris McKee almost went directly in – it was clawed away by Sean O’Neill who, for all Linfield’s pressure, was rarely tested.
As Linfield threw everything at it late on, United had a big chance to seal it in the 89th minute as Danny Lafferty played fellow substitute Ryan McNickle through, but his shot came back off the post.
A cross from Morrison was put in with pace, but it was turned wide of the post as Ballymena United held on for their first League win over Linfield since April 2021, when Conor Keeley scored a last-gasp winner in a match played behind closed doors due to the covid-19 pandemic.
The Blues must bounce back in their home League match against Glenavon on Saturday.
FT: BALLYMENA UNITED 1–0 LINFIELD
BALLYMENA UNITED: Sean O’Neill (GK), Matthew Clarke, Daithi McCallion, Kym Nelson, Stephen O’Donnell, David Toure, James Hood, Aaron Jarvis, Ben Kennedy, Calvin McCurry, Success Edogun
Unused subs: Declan Breen (GK), Joel Thompson, Daire O’Connor
LINFIELD: Chris Johns (GK), Sean Brown (Matt Yates 76’), Ben Hall, Euan East, Kirk Millar (Callumn Morrison 63’), Isaac Baird (Chris McKee 63’), Chris Shields, Kyle McClean, Dane McCullough (Sam Taylor 56’), Kieran Offord, Matthew Fitzpatrick
Unused subs: David Walsh (GK), Sam Roscoe, Josh Archer
YELLOW CARDS: Sean O’Neill, Aaron Jarvis, Success Edogun (Ballymena United), Sean Brown, Ben Hall (Linfield)
REFEREE: Evan Boyce