Linfield were eliminated from the Co. Antrim Shield at the quarter-final stage last night, going down 3-2 to Crusaders at a rainy Seaview.
As the competition’s most successful club, having won it on 43 occasions, Linfield have a great history in the Shield, however they fielded a much-changed team for this match. The fact that the Blues have several injuries and return to Seaview for a League fixture this weekend probably factored into David Healy’s decision.
The Blues made six changes from the team that lost Friday’s ‘Big Two’ derby against Glentoran at Windsor Park. David Walsh, Dane McCullough Matthew Orr, Cameron Ballentyne and Kalum Thompson came into the team, as did debutant Rhys McGarry, the tenacious central midfielder who joined Linfield Swifts from Crusaders Reserves in January. Chris Johns (sub), Scot Whiteside, Jamie Mulgrew, Kyle McClean and Joel Cooper all made way, as did Charlie Allen who is unavailable this week due to International duty with Northern Ireland u21s.
Things didn’t get off to a good start for the much-changed Linfield line-up as they found themselves behind after 1 minute and 52 seconds at Seaview. It came from a battle between Crues’ forward Kieran Offord and Linfield defender East, with the ball coming out to Ross Clarke on the right and he crossed the ball into the middle where Harry Franklin rose above Ethan McGee to head the ball in from around six yards.
The Blues’ only real chance in a flat first half came in the 14th minute when young midfielder Kalum Thompson seized upon a loose ball in the middle of the pitch before advancing to the edge of the Crusaders box, from where he drew a good save from the Crues’ young goalkeeper Ryan Kerr down to his left.
The hosts then passed up a good chance after half-an-hour. Similar to the opening goal, this chance came from another cross from Ross Clarke out the right. It was met by Jarlath O’Rourke at the back post as he steered a header across to former Linfield man Jordan Stewart in the middle, however he headed over from close range.
However, the Crues did then go and double their lead in the 38th minute as left-back Jarlath O’Rourke advanced up the left before cutting inside onto his weaker right foot to net an unstoppable shot into the far corner from the edge of the box.
HT: Crusaders 2-0 Linfield
There was a change at half-time for Linfield as 16-year-old right winger Alex Watson came on for his debut in place of Dane McCullough. McCullough had suffered a head wound in the first half which seemed to trouble him after an innocuous aerial collision with Crusaders’ Ross Clarke, with the young Linfield defender requiring hospital treatment.
Blues’ goalkeeper David Walsh then kept his team in the tie with a big save nine minutes into the second half. Young Crusaders midfielder Josh Williamson ran in on goal after a slip by Kirk Millar before Walsh made a good stop with an outstretched right foot.
Then, on 64 minutes, another name was added to Linfield’s already eye-watering injury list as highly-rated 16-year-old Kalum Thompson suffered what looked a serious injury which required a stretcher to take him off the pitch. Thompson was replaced by 17-year-old debutant forward Jacob Farr, whilst Rhys McGarry was replaced by another debutant; local lad Leyton Hutton.
The Linfield team pulled a goal back for a lifeline in the match after 76 minutes. Matthew Fitzpatrick was caught by former Linfield defender Jimmy Callacher whom he’d beaten to a loose ball inside the box, thus resulting in a penalty. Chris Shields stepped up to coolly convert the penalty, sending the goalkeeper the opposite direction, for his third goal of the season.
The goal lifted the confidence of the Blues and particularly their young players. However, the momentum was short-lived as Crusaders sealed the win with a fortuitous goal on 82 minutes. Crusaders left-back Jarlath O’Rourke claimed his second of the night as he jumped to block an attempted clearance from a free-kick, with the ball deflecting off him and into the net.
There had been a change for Linfield a minute prior as teenage Blueman, Zach Anderson replaced Kirk Millar for his debut, and a further debutant as Liam Burns replaced Cammy Ballantyne on 86 minutes.
There was almost a debut goal for 17-year-old Jacob Farr – he was denied by a great save when he headed Euan East’s cross from the left at close range. His follow-up effort was cleared off the line.
There was a debut goal for fellow debutant Liam Burns, however. The 18-year-old central midfielder clinically dispatched a free-kick from the edge of the box in the third minute of the five additional minutes.
Although all the young Linfield players showed a good account of themselves, it’s elimination for the Blues as Crusaders earn the right to travel to Larne for the semi-final. The Blues will hope for a different outcome this Saturday when they travel to Seaview – this time in League action – for a game which won’t be as flat as this one was, on and off the pitch.
FT: Crusaders 3-2 Linfield