Linfield made a winning start to the Sports Direct Premiership season with a deserved 2-0 win away to Ballymena United on the opening weekend.
Blues boss David Healy stuck with the same starting eleven that started Monday night’s friendly when Linfield demolished H&W Welders by nine goals to nil. Ballymena United, on the other hand, have had an impressive transfer window and subsequently they had six debutants in their starting eleven.
Both teams looked like they’d been eagerly-awaiting the beginning of the new season as the match started at a quick pace at a sunny Ballymena Showgrounds. In the opening stages both teams were constructing quick, direct attacking plays.
The game’s first booking came after just 78 seconds as Ballymena centre back Stephen O’Donnell fouled Matthew Fitzpatrick down the right. The hosts survived the free-kick that followed, however both players were involved again in a talking point in the third minute as Fitzpatrick went down inside the box, claiming to have been pulled down by O’Donnell as he attempted to get on the end of Kirk Millar’s cross from the left. The referee waved Linfield penalty appeals away.
This was the first of two big decisions for the referee. The other came after 18 minutes when Ballymena United midfielder Josh Carson caught Ethan McGee high with a nasty tackle. Referee Lee Tavinder only awarded a yellow card, however to his credit he has since admitted that, having seen the replay, it should have been a red card, stating that he didn’t have an adequate view to see the extent of the challenge. To the credit of Josh Carson, he also has since apologised for the challenge. Most importantly, McGee was fit to carry on playing.
Carson had a good effort well saved four minutes later when his low driven shot was stopped by Chris Johns down low to his left. Whilst The Blues had most of the ball in the first half, they probably could have done more with it in the final third. That said, they did go close twice in a first half where neither ‘keeper was particularly busy.
Euan East was unlucky to volley just wide of the far post when Kirk Millar’s deep free-kick found him unmarked at the back post, and later in the half, Fitzpatrick teed up Kirk Millar whose shot from just inside the box was pushed over the crossbar by the experienced Sean O’Neil.
HT: Ballymena United 0-0 Linfield
Josh Carson went close for the home team a few minutes after the break when he wrapped his foot around a volley which flashed not far wide from the edge of the box, however it was a good start to the second half from the Blues who were unlucky not to take the lead on 53 minutes.
Kirk Millar played a well-timed lofted through ball over the top to Joel Cooper who got his shot beyond the onrushing ‘keeper, however United debutant Daniel Lafferty was covering to stop the ball crossing the line.
However, Linfield weren’t to be denied two minutes later as they took the lead. Joel Cooper was fouled by Donal Rocks down the left which resulted in a free-kick. Kirk Millar hammered the free-kick at pace across the front post area where Chris McKee got a touch to divert it into the net. A United defender got a touch on the line but could not keep it out as McKee opened the Blues’ account for the season.
Three minutes after giving Linfield the lead, McKee almost added a second. A neat move saw Kyle McClean’s sweeping pass release Matthew Fitzpatrick down the right and he squared it for strike partner McKee in the middle, but his shot went the wrong side of the post, into the side netting.
David Healy made a tactical tweak with twenty minutes to go, with Stephen Fallon returning to competitive action in place of Chris McKee. The Blues went to a 3-5-2, with Euan East going from left back – where he looked comfortable in an unfamiliar position – back into the more familiar role of centre back.
The Linfield goal was untroubled for the most part, with the Blues’ only real scare coming in the 74th minute as United winger Alex Gawne broke down the left and crossed for Aaron Jarvis at the front post where his header was blocked by Chris Johns at close range.
The Blues went in search of a second goal to give them some security, and they got it in the 81st minute. The ball dropped in the box following a set-piece and Joel Cooper nipped in ahead of a home defender who caught the winger when trying to tackle. The referee pointed to the spot and Chris Shields confidently swept the ball into the bottom left corner to wrap up the three points.
Three points and a clean sheet on the road is the perfect start for David Healy and his Linfield team who host Dungannon Swifts at Windsor Park next Saturday.
FT: Ballymena United 0-2 Linfield
Written by Jamie Megarry