The first of the post-split fixtures set the ‘Big Two’ up for another battle just 13 days after Chris McKee’s late extra-time penalty separated the teams in the final of the Bet McLean Cup.
This time, the Blues made the short trip to the east for a battling 1-1 draw – a result which sees League leaders Larne extend their lead at the top to six points over second-place Glentoran.
The Linfield team news was always going to be of interest given the number of absentees. Chris Johns missed out through an injury picked up in training, as did Euan East who went off in the first half of last week’s match in Carrickfergus, plus long-term absentees Chris Shields and Kieran Offord. Sean Brown was unavailable as he represents Northern Ireland under-21s at International level, while Kyle McClean was suspended, having picked up his fifth booking of the season in last week’s 2-0 defeat away to Carrick Rangers.
Therefore, the four changes to the starting eleven saw Jamie Mulgrew, Matt Yates and the returning Isaac Baird come in alongside goalkeeper David Walsh who made his first League appearance of the season. Darragh Leahy was cleared to play despite being sent off in the last match, against Carrick Rangers, as Linfield have appealed his red card and the player is available at least until an outcome is reached.
The Blues had a promising opening within the first minute as Glentoran midfielder Cammy Palmer’s loose pass gifted the ball to Matthew Fitzpatrick in the middle of the pitch. With the Glens caught, their defence opened up for Fitzpatrick to slide Adam Frizzell through on goal, but the wind seemed to carry the pass through at a pace that allowed the out-rushing goalkeeper to get there first.
Glentoran also had a good early chance after eight minutes when Ryan Cooney’s cross from the right into the ‘corridor of uncertainty’ was met by striker Pat Hoban who headed wide at close range.
Then, on 19 minutes, Glentoran really ought to have taken the lead. The hosts missed a golden opportunity when a long throw from the left fell for winger Ross Clarke who was all alone at the back post, but he hit a shot straight at David Walsh at close range. Whilst Walsh didn’t know a lot about it, it could still be classed as a good save, but Clarke will feel he should have scored.
Whether it was due to injury or a decision made on the back of his miss is unclear, but Glens winger Ross Clarke was withdrawn a minute later for Josh Daniels, and captain Marcus Kane also picked up an injury at the same time as he was replaced by Daniel Larmour – so a rare double substitution after just 21 minutes.
With both teams trying to be positive, the next big chance came on 37 minutes and it came Linfield’s way when Matt Yates’ ball over the top released the perfectly-timed run from Matthew Fitzpatrick to go through on goal, but his attempted lob lacked the required purchase and it allowed the ‘keeper to make a straightforward chance.
The Blues didn’t dwell on it and took the lead just two minutes later in the 39th minute with both forwards involved again. The reigning champions broke through midfield with Isaac Baird releasing Matthew Fitzpatrick down the left. The striker cut inside before his deflected shot came to Scottish striker Matt Yates on the edge of the box and he finished brilliantly, curling the ball around a defender to find the bottom corner for his seventh goal of the season.
Glentoran went close to equalising with the last action of the first half as striker Pat Hoban pounced upon a long throw from the left, with the former Dundalk forward hitting a volley on the swivel from a central area, but his effort flashed just wide.
HT: GLENTORAN 0-1 LINFIELD
Glens manager Declan Devine made an attack-minded change at the break with Jordan Stewart replacing Jack Malone. The hosts did pick up early in the second half and mounted pressure, forcing several corners which Linfield defended well, and David Walsh did very well to be alert and beat Jordan Stewart to a loose ball in the box at one point.
Then, on 57 minutes, the Glens were awarded a penalty for Isaac Baird’s naive challenge on Daniel Larmour inside the box. Linfield were frustrated, not because of the decision over the foul itself, but for the fact that Ethan McGee had been on the ground for five-to-ten seconds with a head injury prior to the incident and Blues officials felt play should have been halted. The treatment to McGee’s head meant Glentoran midfielder Aaron McEneff had to wait three minutes to hit his penalty, but he kept his nerve to put the ball into the bottom right corner for an equaliser. A frustrating goal for the Blues to concede as they otherwise defended so well throughout the match.
The Blues were fortunate not to go behind seven minutes later when Aaron McEneff’s cross took a deflection off Ben Hall and struck the post before Ethan McGee scrambled the ball away to safety.
Linfield rallied again late in the match and twice went close to winning it through Ethan McGee. Firstly, a short corner taken to Jamie Mulgrew led to the exceptional midfielder crossing to the front post where McGee got in ahead of the goalkeeper before his glancing header flashed just over.
Then, in the 89th minute, Ben Hall retrieved the ball inside the box following a Linfield corner before teeing up Ethan McGee who showed great technique to adjust himself and hit the ball to sweetly, with his low, arrowed strike drawing a top save out of the goalkeeper, down to the left. The ball could have rebounded anywhere, but luckily for Glentoran, it landed at the feet of a man in a green shirt.
A strong effort from a Linfield squad currently down in numbers, unfortunate not to take all three points as the evergreen Jamie Mulgrew led from the front. The Blues remain fourth with four League matches remaining, and sit five points behind Coleraine, and seven points behind second-place Glentoran, so the Blues will want to break into the top three in the coming weeks.
The next match is away to Dungannon Swifts on Tuesday 7 April.
FT: GLENTORAN 1-1 LINFIELD
GLENTORAN: Andrew Mills (GK), Ryan Cooney, MJ Kamson Kamara, Marcus Kane © (Marcus Kane 21’), Danny Amos, James Singleton, Jack Malone (Jordan Stewart 45’), Cammy Palmer, Ross Clarke (Josh Daniels 21’ – Ben Gallagher 88’), Aaron McEneff, Pat Hoban
Unused subs: Billy Crellin (GK), Liam Burt, Jordan Jenkins
LINFIELD: David Walsh (GK), Ethan McGee, Ben Hall, Darragh Leahy, Dane McCullough, Jamie Mulgrew ©, Josh Archer, Isaac Baird (Kirk Millar 67’), Adam Frizzell (Chris McKee 74’), Matt Yates (Sam Taylor 67’), Matthew Fitzpatrick (Robbie McDaid 88’)
Unused subs: Scot Whiteside, Alex Gorrin, Cameron Ballantyne
REFEREE: Steven Gregg
Yellow cards: Jordan Stewart (Glentoran), Matt Yates (Linfield)