There was Valentines Day delight for Linfield this afternoon as the Blues went to Lurgan and recorded a convincing 3-0 victory over Glenavon.
Having been stung being the basement side on their last visit to Mourneview Park just two months ago, the Blues made the trip down the M1 under no illusions and wanting to avoid a repeat of that 2-1 defeat which sparked a nightmare festive period.
Buoyed from their 6-0 home win over Dungannon Swifts, the Blues’ starting eleven featured one changes from midweek as Isaac Baird came into the team in place of Adam Frizzell. Linfield boss David Healy had to make do with a seat in the Directors Box due to suspension.
There was a competitive and physical start to the match and it took a while to settle. The first chance of the match came Linfield’s way when Sam Taylor made progress down the left and crossed. It was retrieved by Isaac Baird and set back for Josh Archer whose strike drew a decent save from the ‘keeper at his near post.
Glenavon looked to break quickly and had two good chances midway through the first half, both of which fell for talisman Peter Campbell. The first instance saw a pinpoint through ball from the experienced John Mountney put left-winger Campbell in, but Chris Johns was equal to his low drive with an excellent save down low to his right.
A while later, Paul McGovern played the ball left to Campbell, and this time he fired just over from a promising position.
Linfield really clicked into gear after half-an-hour and the Blues took the lead on 32 minutes. The once-again excellent Sam Taylor made a run across the pitch to the right wing, stretching Glenavon before McGee played the ball inside to McClean who moved it on to Matthew Fitzpatrick. The in-form striker used the run of Euan East as a decoy to make room for a shot from 20 yards which found the bottom corner despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to it.
It took great efforts from home goalkeeper Jacob Carney to prevent the champions from adding to their one-goal lead prior to the interval. A neat move similar to the one which brought about the opening goal almost saw the Blues double their lead, but this time Fitzpatrick’s curling strike was brilliantly saved as the diving Englishman pushed it around the post.
Then, a minute before the break, Fitzpatrick threatened again from a similar position as he hit a low shot sweetly from 20 yards, but Carney made another superb save down low to his left. Kirk Millar latched onto the loose ball and pulled the ball back across goal, with Sam Taylor inches away from getting his foot on the end of it.
HT: GLENAVON 0-1 LINFIELD
The Blues picked up where they left off in the first half, in terms of knocking on the door for a second goal. Matthew Fitzpatrick was once again denied by the inspired goalkeeper just three minutes into the second half. The Blues played through Glenavon’s high defensive line, ending with Kirk Millar sliding Fitzpatrick in, but his effort from close range was kept out by the goalkeeper down to his right.
However, Linfield’s second and Matthew Fitzpatrick’s second goal finally arrived on 51 minutes. Fitzpatrick started and finished the move. He held the ball up and then released McGee down the right. McGee fed the ball into Isaac Baird inside the box, and it was then a case of former Glenavon teammates combining to hurt their former club as the midfielder showed neat feet to hold the ball and tee it off for the striker to rifle in a low strike from the edge of the box to make it 18 goals for the season and 5 goals in his last two matches.
Amidst a Linfield second-half onslaught, Glenavon had one decent chance against the run of play as full-back Jordan McMullan broke through a challenge inside the box before seeing his low shot flash across goal and just past the far post.
Fitzpatrick was denied what would have been consecutive hat-tricks with 25 minutes remaining when he was denied by yet another good save at close range after being played in by Kirk Millar.
In the 69th minute, the Blues extended their lead to three goals as Isaac Baird got into the box before his low cross was sliced by home defender McMullan, allowing Sam Taylor to nip in and tuck home his second goal in Linfield colours, and it was just reward for two stellar performances by the English winger this week.
Taylor was involved again a minute later as he backheeled the ball into Kyle McClean, whose low shot from the edge of the box was well saved.
Ben Hall also had a good chance in the latter stages of the match when McClean turned Millar’s corner delivery back across goal, but the defender volleyed wide and a fourth goal was not forthcoming.
Much like Tuesday’s win over Dungannon Swifts, this was another strong Linfield performance. The Blues remain unbeaten in the League in 2026, keeping five clean sheets in those seven matches.
Linfield remain fourth but are now six points off second place Coleraine who drew today, with the Blues having two games in hand over the Bannsiders. League leaders Larne were beaten, and the Blues could move within eight points in they can win their game in hand, which is away to Dungannon Swifts on Tuesday evening.
Glenavon remain rooted to the bottom of the table, ten points off Crusaders who are currently in the promotion/relegation play-off spot with ten matches remaining.
FT: GLENAVON 0-3 LINFIELD
LINFIELD: Chris Johns (GK), Ethan McGee, Ben Hall, Darragh Leahy, Euan East (Sean Brown 78’), Josh Archer, Isaac Baird, Kyle McClean ©, Kirk Millar (Charlie Allen 78’), Sam Taylor, Matthew Fitzpatrick
Unused subs: David Walsh (GK), Alex Gorrin, Adam Frizzell, Chris McKee, Matt Yates
GLENAVON: Jacob Carney (GK), Jordan McMullan, Harry Murphy, Luke Cartwright, Patrick Burns, Sean Carlin (Luke McGerrigan 59’), John Mountney (Barney McKeown 70’), Charlie Lindsay (Gavin Gilmore 68’), Peter Campbell ©, Paul McGovern (Mikey Harkin 70’), Conor Falls (Nathaniel Ferris 59’)
Unused subs: Mark Byrne (GK), Kris Lowe
REFEREE: Mark Dillon (Banbridge)
Yellow cards: Josh Archer, Euan East