On a glorious sunny Saturday evening in south Belfast, Linfield concluded their League campaign with a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Cliftonville as former blue Liam McStravick struck a double on his old territory.
After a couple of weeks where David Healy rested players and fielded experimental teams, the gaffer returned to his tried and trusted regulars with it being the last competitive match before the Blues’ crunch European play-off final in mid-May. However, he was forced into a last-minute change as Adam Frizzell – who was due to start – had to be removed from the squad as he darted to hospital for the birth of his child, and so Chris McKee came into the starting eleven.
There was an eventful start to the match with goals at both ends inside the first eight minutes. Cliftonville took the lead after three minutes when Rory Hale’s ball over the top played former Linfield attacker Liam McStravick through on goal as he beat an offside trap to rifle a left-footed strike low into the net.
The Blues got back on level terms in the eighth minute. Fitzpatrick broke down the right and played in a low cross which was stylishly flicked on by Kirk Millar and then retrieved by Matt Yates who was brought down by the incoming Cliftonville defender Josh Kelly. The referee pointed to the spot and the penalty was well taken by Chris McKee who took his goal tally for the season into double digits.
In an entertaining first half, Matthew Fitzpatrick almost gave the Blues the lead six minutes later as he pounced upon a loose ball inside the box before proceeding to turn swiftly and hit a low strike which was well-struck but parried away by the ‘keeper.
The Blues then went close twice in quick succession. Firstly, a corner routine saw Kirk Millar find Jamie Mulgrew inside the box and his shot was crucially blocked by Rory Hale. The ball went behind for another corner from which Ben Hall was unlucky to see an effort scrambled off the line by Joseph Toole.
Cliftonville then went up the other end a minute later and retook the lead against the run of play as Liam McStravick got the ball 25 yards out and rifled a sweet low strike into the corner for his second goal of the day against his former club.
The Blues looked for a response before the break. Reds ‘keeper Morrison saved a Fitzpatrick header following McGee’s cross from the right, then the Blues were unlucky on the stroke of half-time when a neat move saw McClean release Fitzpatrick down the left and he squared it centrally for the onrushing Chris McKee whose low strike was deflected just wide of the post.
HT: LINFIELD 1-2 CLIFTONVILLE
Cliftonville were forced into a change at half-time as two-goal hero Liam McStravick was unable to continue. Despite his withdrawal, the Reds came out strongly in the second half. Jim Magilton’s team could and probably should have went 3-1 ahead just four minutes after the break when former Linfield striker Adam Carroll headed against the crossbar at close range following a cross from Joseph Toole.
A few minutes later, Rory Hale also threatened for the north Belfast side as his driven shot from 20 yards was well saved by David Walsh who sprung to his left to push the effort behind for a corner.
The Blues had periods of possession but couldn’t carve out any good opportunities. Sam Taylor injected pace and endeavour as a substitute, and he tested the visiting goalkeeper with a low shot after a neat flick from Kyle McClean, but working the ‘keeper was something the Blues didn’t do enough of.
In the latter stages, an important block denied Fitzpatrick at close range after Cliftonville were unable to deal with Sam Taylor’s low cross.
The match fizzled out, a frustrated Blues team were unable to come up with the answers. The Blues finish the campaign in fourth and will need to be improved when they have their crunch European play-off final on Tuesday 12 May. The opposition and venue will be determined based on the outcome of next week’s Irish Cup Final and the other play-off matches on Tuesday 5 May and Saturday 10 May.
FT: LINFIELD 1-2 CLIFTONVILLE
Linfieldfc.com Man of the Match: Kyle McClean
LINFIELD: David Walsh (GK), Ethan McGee, Ben Hall, Darragh Leahy, Dane McCullough (Sam Taylor 55’), Jamie Mulgrew © (Josh Archer 73’), Kyle McClean, Chris McKee, Matt Yates (Robbie McDaid 55’), Matthew Fitzpatrick
Unused subs: Sean Brown, Jon Graham, Cammy Ballantyne, Isaac Baird
CLIFTONVILLE: PJ Morrison (GK), Luke Conlon, Shaun Leppard, Joseph Toole (David Green 78’), Keevan Hawthorne (Reece Jordan 68’), Josh Kelly, Harry Wilson, Rory Hale © (Sean Robertson 68’), Liam McStravick (Joseph Sheridan 45’), Adam Carroll, Ryan Curran (Joe Gormley 68’)
Unused subs: Lewis Ridd (GK), Aidan Kelly
Referee: Shane McGonigle