Linfield remain in the title race conversation following a competitive 1-1 draw against leaders Larne at Inver Park this evening.

The Blues came into the match five points behind the Invermen, so a win for either side could have had huge implications for the title race. Linfield couldn’t afford to lose, as going eight points adrift with eight matches remaining would have made for an even bigger uphill task.

David Healy was forced into making one change to the team which narrowly defeated Glentoran in Saturday’s derby, with Sean Brown coming in against his former side in the absence of Isaac Baird who was unavailable. Ethan McGee moved into midfield.

There was a flashpoint in the match in the opening minutes between Linfield’s Ethan McGee and Larne’s Leroy Millar. Despite claims that Millar should have been sent off for raising his hand to McGee, the referee only issued a talking to.

After a cagey opening, Linfield were close to taking the lead after 12 minutes when Ethan McGee’s long throw from the left came through to Kirk Millar who struck the ball cleanly at close range, only to be denied by former teammate Rohan Ferguson who made a superb reflex save to his right.

Then, Larne went up the other end and took the lead within a minute with a crisp counter as Tiarnan O’Connor latched onto a through ball and then intelligently pulled it across to Leroy Millar who stepped onto the ball and slotted the ball past Johns from the edge of the box.

The hosts had another decent chance after half-an-hour when giant defender Matt Ridley rose to meet Chris Gallagher’s corner delivery, but he headed wide from a good position.

Although not at their flowing best, Linfield still had the better of the opportunities in the first half. Kyle McClean had the best one when he was teed up by Matthew Fitzpatrick just inside Larne’s box, but his low strike was central of the goal and allowed Ferguson to make the save. Either side of the ‘keeper and it would most likely have been a goal.

McClean threatened again when he flicked on a free-kick delivery into Larne’s box before the ball came back to him, but his effort at close range was comfortably saved by Ferguson at his near post.

Kirk Millar also had a good chance for the Blues at the end of the half when he was picked out at the back post by Sam Taylor’s deep cross, but his header lacked power and was saved.

HT: LARNE 1-0 LINFIELD

David Healy tweaked things at half-time and got the desired impact from his team. Sean Brown – who had been booked – was replaced by Adam Frizzell who went into an advanced midfield role, with Ethan McGee reverting into his natural position at right back amidst a slight change of shape.

The Blues were shooting into the away end goal in the second half and a positive start to the second half soon got a vocal travelling support right behind them. After a few set-pieces there was a sense that an equaliser was coming, and indeed it arrived four minutes into the half when Sam Taylor’s corner from the right and flicked in by Adam Frizzell who bagged his first goal for Linfield from a yard out.

Larne managed to take the sting out of the Linfield momentum as both teams cancelled each-other out for a large part of the second half. There was a big talking point on 79 minutes when Larne were reduced to ten men as Leroy Millar was deemed to have tackled Ethan McGee is a reckless fashion – an incident that had been brewing since the two players were involved in a flashpoint in the opening minutes.

Linfield’s numerical advantage provided an opportunity for the Blues to make further inroads with their title challenge, but Larne did well to hang onto a point. The closest the champions came to a winner was on 87 minutes when Euan East got past Dan Bent on the left and pulled the ball back for Kyle McClean whose shot was crucially blocked before Adam Frizzell volleyed just over from 18 yards on the follow-up.

Despite four separate substitution stoppages, a red card, an injury treatment stoppage and a goal in the second half, just four minutes were added on. The stoppage time was stop-start, but it was blown up at 94:18 as both teams had to settle for a point. Larne will undoubtedly be the happier as it keeps them at the top of the table, whilst the Blues may feel it was a missed opportunity on the balance of chances.

After a positive, battling second half, The Blues remain very much alive and kicking in the title race, but every match is critical, and focus now turns to Sunday’s short trip to face Cliftonville.

FT: LARNE 1-1 LINFIELD

LARNE: Rohan Ferguson (GK), Tomas Cosgrove ©, Matt Ridley, Aaron Donnelly, Sean Graham, Chris Gallagher, Dan Bent, Jordan McEneff (Ronan Doherty 87’) Leroy Millar, Tiarnan O’Connor (Andy Ryan 70’), Matty Lusty (Paul O’Neill 90’)

Unused subs: Dylan Graham (GK), Logan Wallace, James Simpson, Conor McKendry

LINFIELD: Chris Johns (GK), Sean Brown (Adam Frizzell 45’), Ethan McGee, Ben Hall, Darragh Leahy, Euan East, Josh Archer, Kyle McClean, Kirk Millar, Sam Taylor (Chris McKee 72’), Matthew Fitzpatrick.

Unused subs: David Walsh (GK), Dane McCullough, Jamie Mulgrew, Charlie Allen, Matt Yates

REFEREE: Christopher Morrison

Yellow cards: Sean Brown, Ben Hall (Linfield), Jordan McEneff, Tomas Cosgrove (Larne)

Red card: Leroy Millar (Larne) 79’