Linfield and Larne played out a goalless draw at a very drizzly Windsor Park this evening, though it took a string of saves from visiting goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson to prevent the Blues from grabbing a late winner.

The Blues were without Josh Archer who was serving the first match of his three-match ban, having been sent off in the goalless draw away to Carrick Rangers on Tuesday evening. Jamie Mulgrew and Matt Yates dropped to the bench as Sean Brown, Alex Gorrin and Chris McKee came into the team.

The first half was a competitive affair, although not very eventful in terms of clear-cut chances, not helped by a questionable playing surface on a very damp night. Larne’s only real chance in the match came after just six minutes from a quick counter-attack as Tomas Cosgrove’s precise through ball released the well-timed run of Paul O’Neill, but once through on goal, the striker was denied by Chris Johns.

For Linfield, Ethan McGee met a Dane McCullough corner but couldn’t hit the target with a header and, minutes later, a long throw from McGee fell kindly for Kyle McClean on the edge of Larne’s box, but the midfielder’s low volley was deflected behind for a corner.

The Blues had a penalty appeal rejected midway through the first half when Dane McCullough’s cross from the left was stopped by defender Logan Wallace who prevented Matthew Fitzpatrick from turning it in at close range. The Blues’ players believed there was a handball offence as the defender was falling, but the referee was unmoved.

Euan East picked up an injury after half-an-hour and had to be withdrawn, paving the way for a Linfield debut for defender Darragh Leahy who signed for the Blues from Waterford on Wednesday. For someone who hadn’t played since late October, and had only had one training session with his new teammates, it was an excellent debut.

Minutes after coming on, the defender showed courage to throw himself in the way of a shot from Paul O’Neill from a dangerous area. It was an important block after the striker’s mazy run.

The Blues suffered a second injury blow on the stroke of half-time as Chris McKee also pulled up unopposed and had to be withdrawn. McKee was replaced by Matt Yates who was lively.

HT: LINFIELD 0-0 LARNE

Early in the second half, Larne stepped up the tempo for a spell and it took good defending from Blues debutant Darragh Leahy to stop Tiarnan O’Connor’s cross from the left finding Paul O’Neill at the back post. The ball then came out to Larne midfielder Chris Gallagher, whose 25-yard strike was not far wide of the post.

At the other end, it took a vital touch from Larne’s big central defender Matthew Ridley to prevent Matthew Fitzpatrick getting his head on Sean Brown’s tantalising cross.

Larne went close on 77 minutes when a deep diagonal free-kick was headed down by Tomas Cosgrove and hooked goalwards by Matthew Ridley before the tantalising ball flashed just past the post. Then, a minute later, the Blues went up the other end as Matthew Fitzpatrick put Charlie Allen through on goal, but he was denied by a good save from Ferguson within two minutes of Allen coming on as a substitute.

There was a Linfield onslaught in the last ten minutes and the champions will wonder how they didn’t find a winner. New signing Darragh Leahy was so close to a debut goal when he got across the front post to meet Dane McCullough’s corner delivery, but the Dubliner’s powerful header was brilliantly saved by Rohan Ferguson.

From the following corner, former Linfield ‘keeper Ferguson produced more heroics as he produced another excellent double save, this time to keep out a header from Matthew Fitzpatrick, and then to deny Leahy again on the follow-up.

A minute later, Dane McCullough had a huge chance as Ethan McGee’s cross made its way through to the left-back inside Larne’s box, but he blazed a shot over the crossbar from close range with his weaker right foot.

The Blues had one last chance in the second of three added minutes as Ethan McGee’s long throw fell kindly for Charlie Allen around 15 yards out, but he volleyed over on his weaker left foot.

Larne will be happy with the point that keeps them firmly in control in the Irish League title race. The Blues will be disappointed on the balance of play not to have won the match, though it was an improved performance and the display of debutant Darragh Leahy is another positive for David Healy to take from it.

The Blues will hope to return to winning ways when they return to action against Crusaders at Seaview next Saturday 24 January (15:00).

FT: LINFIELD 0-0 LARNE

Linfieldfc.com Man of the Match: Ethan McGee

LINFIELD: Chris Johns (GK), Ethan McGee, Ben Hall, Euan East (Darragh Leahy 29’), Dane McCullough, Sean Brown, Alex Gorrin (Jamie Mulgrew 76’), Kyle McClean ©, Isaac Baird (Charlie Allen 76’), Chris McKee (Matt Yates 45’), Matthew Fitzpatrick

Unused: David Walsh (GK), Cameron Ballantyne, Jamie Mulgrew, Sam Taylor

LARNE: Rohan Ferguson (GK), Logan Wallace, Matthew Ridley, Ryan Nolan (Conor McKendry 81’), Sean Graham, Tomas Cosgrove ©, Chris Gallagher, Jordan McEneff (James Simpson 75’), Leroy Millar, Tiarnan O’Connor (Matthew Lusty 60’), Paul O’Neill (Andy Ryan 60’)

Unused: Dylan Graham (GK), Cormac Austin, Benjamin Magee

REFEREE: Shane Andrews

Yellow cards: Kyle McClean (Linfield), Conor McKendry (Larne), Chris Gallagher (Larne)