Linfield extended their unbeaten League run to 12 matches with a 1-0 win over Loughgall at Windsor Park this afternoon – a result which maintains the Blues’ 20-point lead at the top.
The Blues cruised to a comfortable 5-1 win when they last hosted Loughgall, back in August. However, today’s match was a much trickier and more competitive encounter, with Loughgall fighting for their lives in search of survival from the drop.
There was just one change from the Linfield team that defeated Larne 1-0 at Windsor Park during the week. Whilst Chris McKee was able to overcome his injury concern from that match, Euan East was not, so he was replaced in the starting line-up by Ethan McGee at left-back. However, another name was added to the injury list just nine minutes into the match as Sam Roscoe pulled up injured. The central defender was replaced by Jamie Mulgrew, with Chris Shields moving from midfield back into the centre of defence.
Basement side Loughgall started this match on the front foot, threatening twice in the opening two minutes. Inside the first minute, former Linfield forward Ryan Waide broke away down the left before having a curling shot saved by Walsh. Then, a minute later, the Villagers broke with real purpose. Pablo Andrade surged beyond a high Linfield backline before putting Adam Towe through on goal, but the tireless Chris McKee put in a simply magnificent last-ditch, goal-saving block after a lung-busting 50-yard run back towards his own goal. This was one of the factors which mounted to McKee taking home the Man of the Match award.
Callumn Morrison also went close to scoring his first Linfield goal in the first five minutes when he checked in from the right before seeing his left-footed effort beaten out by the goalkeeper. There had been a real open feel to the opening 15 minutes or so, then Linfield started to assert more control in the match.
A patient move down the left saw Ethan McGee deliver an inviting cross from the left, finding Matthew Fitzpatrick whose header from the back post area drew another diving save from Loughgall goalkeeper Nathan Gartside. Then, five minutes later, when Gartside was likely to be beaten, the ball was blocked on the line after Morrison’s first-time effort after being found by McClean’s cut-back corner.
As Linfield continued to probe, Gartside came up with another save, and this one was a save of real high quality. Chris McKee must have thought he’d scored when he got his head on the end of Matthew Orr’s cross from the right. It looked destined for the top left corner, but the ‘keeper did superbly to tip it onto the crossbar.
However, despite Gartside’s best efforts, he was breached from the resulting corner. Kyle McClean delivered the corner from the left side, and it was met by Matthew Fitzpatrick who guided it into the far corner. The goalkeeper got a touch but was unable to keep it out as Fitzpatrick claimed his 14th goal of the season, putting the Blues ahead on the half-hour mark.
The Blues almost struck again eight minutes later when Chris McKee intercepted a pass just outside the Loughgall box. From there he played the ball into Kieran Offord in space to his left, but the pass was slightly heavy and gave Offord some work to do. Offord went past the onrushing goalkeeper but due to being off balance and going away from goal, he was unable to generate the power required for his shot to cross the line.
Loughgall then almost levelled in the closing minutes of the first half as an unfortunate ricochet off Kyle McClean sent the ball into the path of midfielder Fra McCaffrey who went through on goal before his low strike was well saved by the outstretched leg of David Walsh, who then picked himself up swiftly to catch the ball after it had spun up into the air.
HT: Linfield 1-0 Loughgall
Linfield were let off the hook five minutes into the second half as Loughgall had another big chance. Chris Shields was robbed of the ball in his own half before attacker Kirk McLaughlin broke through a challenge to get into the box, but his shot looped onto the roof of the net, going over the bar by a fine margin. The forward was claiming for a corner which wasn’t given.
The Blues then went agonisingly close to doubling their lead on two occasions within a matter of minutes. Firstly, on 55 minutes. Jamie Mulgrew’s tantalising cross from the right was just beyond the head of Matthew Fitzpatrick, however the ball then landed for Ethan McGee whose first-time volley – which was initially going just wide – was met by Kieran Offord who instinctively stuck a foot out, but the ball went just over the bar.
Then, on 61 minutes, Matthew Orr’s excellent cross from the right was met by Matthew Fitzpatrick who saw his header from around the penalty spot come back off the base of the post. With the Blues wondering how they hadn’t scored more than one goal, some anxiety perhaps started to kick in, knowing the stage of the season we’re at and what’s at stake.
Loughgall had a dangerous counter-attack midway through the second half when half-time substitute Conor McCloskey broke past Matthew Orr before sliding in Ryan Waide, however his low shot from a tight angle was again kept out by the legs of David Walsh who had a solid afternoon.
Matthew Fitzpatrick couldn’t believe he hadn’t scored again in the final 20 minutes. Kyle McClean had broke through a challenge down the right before bursting into the box where he drilled the ball across goal, but it was blocked before Fitzpatrick turned and hit a shot which was deflected narrowly wide of the far post.
Centre forward Fitzpatrick was disappointed to have been booked late in the match for a tackle in which he strongly felt he’d played the ball. As it’s Fitzpatrick’s fifth caution of the season, he’ll be suspended against Coleraine next week. However, in better news regarding suspensions, Joel Cooper has now served his three-match ban and will be available to return against the Bannsiders at Windsor Park next Saturday.
This was not Linfield’s most polished performance by any means but it’s another valuable three points on the board and another match ticked off. Nine more hugely-important matches remain.
FT: Linfield 1-0 Loughgall
Linfieldfc.com Man of the Match: Chris McKee