Two months on from Linfield’s 6-1 win over H&W Welders in the Co. Antrim Shield at Windsor Park, the two teams met again this evening, only this time it was a different competition and different location as the Blues made the short trip to Blanchflower Park in the round of 16 in the Bet McLean Cup. However, this was much more of a contest as the Welders fought back from 3-1 down to force extra-time before eventually losing 6-3 to the Blues in a nine-goal thriller.
David Healy made six changes to the team which lacked cutting edge in Sunday’s goalless draw against Cliftonville at Solitude, with David Walsh, Ethan McGee, Josh Archer, Callumn Morrison, Matt Yates and Kieran Offord coming into the side in place of Chris Johns, Sean Brown, Kirk Millar, Isaac Baird, Sam Taylor, and the injured Euan East.
The Welders – who currently sit in third place in the Playr-Fit Championship – had former Linfield Academy graduate Ewan McCoubrey in their team at right wing-back. Another former Linfield player, goalkeeper Conor Mitchell was on the bench, whilst striker Ethan Devine – a popular figure amongst Linfield faithful for his title-winning heroics in the second half of the 2021-22 season – was unavailable through suspension after being sent off in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Newington in Larne.
Linfield made a bright start to the match, getting particular joy down the right side. One such occasion in the opening ten minutes saw a neat ball from Ethan McGee find Callumn Morrison racing down the right before the Scotsman pulled the ball back for Matthew Fitzpatrick who struck the crossbar from around ten yards out.
Soon after, the Blues produced a lovely flowing move down the left as Charlie Allen played a neat one-two with Matthew Fitzpatrick before feeding the overlapping run of Sam Roscoe who fizzed a low cross to the back post area where Callumn Morrison took a touch before rifling a strike just over the bar.
Then, on 19 minutes, the Welders took the lead against the run of play when in-form striker Brian Healy nipped in to coolly slot a low finish beyond David Walsh from close range.
The Blues responded well, equalising eight minutes later when a clever reverse ball from Kyle McClean found Matt Yates inside the box and he buried a lovely finish into the far top corner of the net for his second goal in Linfield colours.
David Healy’s men then struck again three minutes later to take the lead on the half-hour mark when a neat through ball from Matthew Fitzpatrick put Kieran Offord in and he shot across the goalkeeper to find the far corner for his ninth goal of the season.
Matt Yates almost added a third before the break, but his shot from a promising position inside the box went the wrong side of the box.
HT: H&W WELDERS 1 – 2 LINFIELD
The Blues went close to scoring on two occasions in the early stages of the second half. Firstly, Matt Yates was pulled back 20 yards out, to the left of the goal. The former Stenhousemuir forward had an effort at goal from the free-kick, forcing the goalkeeper into a decent save on his side of the wall.
Soon after, Kieran Offord went close to scoring again as he turned Callumn Morrison’s pinpoint cross wide of the post by a matter of inches.
Linfield’s third goal then arrived on 65 minutes when Kyle McClean’s free-kick delivery from the right was headed back across the goalkeeper and into the corner of the net by Ben Hall for his second goal of the season.
At 3-1 with 25 minutes remaining, the Welders rolled up their sleeves and were determined to keep fighting. The Blues received a warning shot which they didn’t heed when Brian Healy turned smartly to create space after a surging run before his shot from the edge of the box was well saved by David Walsh who dived to parry the shot away to his right.
The Blues had a further warning on 79 minutes and were let off the hook as Senan Devine’s precise through ball but the lively Brian Healy through on goal, but the former Newry and Ballyclare striker’s first touch let him down and allowed Walsh to pounce on the ball.
The Welders got their lifeline at the third time of asking, on 82 minutes as as 50-50 between Ewan McCoubrey and Isaac Baird inside the Linfield box saw the ball break to Coleraine loanee Senan Devine who rifled in a left-footed drive from 20 yards.
Welders’ second goal gave them a visible lift – fans and players alike – and they had their tails up. The hosts then struck again to equalise in the 89th minute when the Blues couldn’t deal with a low cross from the right before Brian Healy pounced for his second of the night, with the young forward rifling the ball into the roof of the net from around six yards out.
FT: H&W WELDERS 3 – 3 LINFIELD
The match then progressed into two 15-minute periods of extra-time. The Blues needed to regain control of the match and go up the gears again after a below-par finish to regular time. They managed to do so, and it could be said their fitness advantage as Full-Time Professional players came to the fore as the 36-time winners took command in extra-time.
Matthew Fitzpatrick put the Blues’ noses back in front in the 99th minute. The striker profited from good wing play from substitute Sam Taylor who got down the left and put it a low cross to an area around the penalty spot from where Fitzpatrick sidefooted the ball into the net.
Fitzpatrick then struck again two minutes later to make it 5-3 to Linfield. The striker was put in by Josh Archer’s inch-perfect through ball before he guided the ball around the onrushing goalkeeper for his eighth goal of the season. Unfortunately, Archer took a knock in the process of playing the pass, and he had to be replaced by Kirk Millar.
HT EXTRA-TIME: H&W WELDERS 3-5 LINFIELD
The Blues – who last won the League Cup in 2024 – sealed their passage to the quarter-finals with a sixth goal inside 30 seconds into the second half of extra time as Chris McKee drove in a low left-footed cross to the back post for Callumn Morrison to score at close range. It was his sixth goal of the season – five of them have come against the Welders.
Job done in the end ahead of a big League match against Coleraine at Windsor Park on Saturday evening. The Blues are in the hat for the last-eight draw. The date of the draw is currently unknown, however the quarter-final ties will take place on Tuesday 2 December.
FT AET: H&W WELDERS 3-6 LINFIELD
H&W WELDERS: Gerard Walker (GK), Lewis Patterson ©, James McCarthy, Jonny James, Ewan McCoubrey, James McClay (Shea Curran 72’), Liam Mullan (Aaron Heaney 72’), Harry O’Connor (Daniel Mhondiwa 60’), Brian Healy, Senan Devine, Jackson Reid (Ronan Wilson 72’)
Unused subs: Conor Mitchell (GK), Craig Harris, Caoimhin Bonner
LINFIELD: David Walsh (GK), Ethan McGee, Ben Hall, Sam Roscoe, Callumn Morrison, Josh Archer (Kirk Millar 102’), Kyle McClean © (Chris McKee 70’), Charlie Allen (Sam Taylor 70’), Matt Yates (Sean Brown 83’), Matthew Fitzpatrick, Kieran Offord (Isaac Baird 75’)
Unused subs: Chris Johns (GK), Dane McCullough
Referee: Michael McKenna
Yellow cards: Ewan McCoubrey (H&W Welders)