The champions against the league leaders was the billing for Inver Park this evening, but Linfield and Larne were inseparable in a stalemate draw – the 21st draw in the 113th League meeting between the teams.
It was a damp squib of a game on a very damp night in Larne, although perhaps it’s not overly surprising that the two teams would cancel each-other out, given they’ve only conceded 17 league goals between them in 33 matches to date this season.
The Blues came into the match with intent, as Gary Haveron’s men had been going about their business efficiently and quietly, going into the match seven points ahead of David Healy’s men who have a game in hand.
Larne started the brighter of the two teams in the opening stages and the league leaders had a good opportunity after seven minutes when Chris Gallagher’s accurate through ball over the top of the Linfield defence put Tiarnan O’Connor in on goal, but the forward dragged his shot across the face of goal.
The Blues grew into it and established a real grip in the game. The champions had the better of the first half as a whole and they did have a number of chances that they were unable to convert. A neat move on 22 minutes saw Kyle McClean release Matthew Fitzpatrick down the right before the striker’s low cross fell for Callumn Morrison whose shot was crucially blocked. McCullough followed in but his shot went over the bar.
Soon after, Fitzpatrick raced down the right again, this time released by a good through ball from Sean Brown. Fitzpatrick’s low cross was deflected out to the edge of the box where Kirk Millar latched onto the ball to strike a 20-yard effort just over.
Larne ‘keeper Ferguson denied his formed club ten minutes before the break with a wonderful double save. With the Larne box crowded in anticipation of a long throw, McCullough went short to Sean Brown whose deep cross to the back post was met by Fitzpatrick whose header drew a great reflex save before Ferguson made another great save with his leg to deny Callumn Morrison on the rebound.
But the best chance of all came six minutes before half-time as Kirk Millar’s free-kick delivery from wide right found Kyle McClean who peeled around the back for a free headed which he put wide with the goal at his mercy. It would have been just reward for a very strong first-half performance.
HT: LARNE 0-0 LINFIELD
The second half was more even – a physical match with both teams giving little away, and clear-cut chances pretty much non-existent.
Linfield forced several corners and also hurled a number of long throws into the Larne box, but the home team defended resolutely, with the aerial prowess of central defender Matthew Ridley coming to the fore.
The Blues did go close once, midway through the second half when Isaac Baird got his head on a long throw from McCullough, but Larne defender Tomas Cosgrove made an important intervention as he hooked the ball out from the face of goal.
Good goalkeeping from Chris Johns to deal with an awkward situation on 74 minutes denied Larne striker Paul O’Neill, as Johns clawed the ball away from the striker who closed in on Conor McKendry unorthodox through ball.
In-form Scotsman Callumn Morrison was a threat for the Blues, showing some neat footwork late on, but he didn’t get the break of the ball despite his best efforts.
It opened up for Larne to break late on and they forced a corner when Aaron Donnelly had a shot deflected wide of goal, and they had a chance to win it at the death as Jordan McEneff’s deep corner was met by Matthew Ridley at the back post area. The English central defender got good purchase on his header, but it was clutched by Chris Johns.
There wasn’t much in the game but David Healy – whilst pleased with battling elements of the performance – will be disappointed not to be heading back up the A8 with all three points on the balance of chances. The Blues lived to rue those missed opportunities they passed up towards the end of the first half.
Next up for the Blues is a home league match against Crusaders next Saturday, 13 December.
FT: LARNE 0-0 LINFIELD
LARNE: Rohan Ferguson (GK), Tomas Cosgrove ©, Matthew Ridley, Aaron Donnelly, Ryan Nolan, Sean Graham, Chris Gallagher, Leroy Millar, Mark Randall (Jordan McEneff 56’), Conor McKendry (Matthew Lusty 78’), Tiarnan O’Connor (Paul O’Neill 56’)
Unused subs: Dylan Graham (GK), Logan Wallace, James Simpson, Benji Magee
LINFIELD: Chris Johns (GK), Ethan McGee, Ben Hall, Sam Roscoe, Sean Brown (Jamie Mulgrew 67’), Dane McCullough, Isaac Baird, Kyle McClean ©, Kirk Millar ©, Callumn Morrison, Matthew Fitzpatrick
Unused subs: David Walsh (GK), Scot Whiteside, Josh Archer, Charlie Allen, Sam Taylor, Matt Yates
Referee: Evan Boyce
Yellow cards: Conor McKendry & Chris Gallagher (Larne), Matthew Fitzpatrick (Linfield)