Persistence paid for Linfield this afternoon as two late goals helped the Blues overcome a stubborn Ballymena United for three points at Windsor Park, a result which means the Blues have won 20 out of the last 21 against the Sky Blues on home territory.
The Blues were hoping to build on last week’s 3-1 win away to Carrick Rangers, however both Euan East and Kyle McClean dropped out of the squad as they both face a number of weeks on the sidelines. Joshua Archer and Charlie Allen were the chosen replacements in the starting eleven. 16-year-old prospect Kalum Thompson returned from an injury he suffered against Crusaders five weeks ago to take a spot on the bench.
Linfield started the match on the front foot and within the opening few minutes they got a left dangerous crosses into the United box, however the visitors were able to scramble the ball away on each occasion. Joel Cooper was first to have a shot on goal when the ball came his way on the edge of the box after Jamie Mulgrew made a tackle high up the pitch. Cooper curled a first-time effort which was beaten away by the diving Sean O’Neill.
United then started to look a threat on the counter-attack after the opening 15 minutes, although they didn’t make the most of the couple of promising breakaway opportunities. It looked for a moment like winger Andy Scott was through on goal when he raced onto a through ball, but Linfield defender Scot Whiteside did brilliantly to race back and do enough to prevent a shot, with the move ultimately coming to nothing.
The Blues’ best chance of the first half came when Matthew Orr’s pinpoint cross from the right picked Matthew Fitzpatrick unopposed but the striker glanced his header wide of the far post.
Orr then went close in the closing stages of the half when he met Charlie Allen’s cross from the left. It was a clever effort, flicking on a glancing header which caused some trouble for the visiting goalkeeper who tipped it onto the crossbar. Cooper and McGee then had dangerous strikes blocked in quick succession before the teams went down the tunnel for the half-time break with the score remaining goalless.
HT: Linfield 0-0 Ballymena United
The Blues certainly had control of the match in the first half but were lacking cutting edge or a bit of inspiration. At times they were taking a touch too many and there was a danger that it could have turned into an afternoon of frustration for David Healy’s men against a team who came to make things difficult.
The league leaders put their best passage of play together on 62 minutes as Millar found Cooper centrally and he picked out Ethan McGee high on the left wing. McGee then crossed to the back post where Archer put wide of the post at full stretch.
A key moment in the match then came on 68 minutes as Ballymena United were reduced to ten men. Central defender Stephen O’Donnell – who’d been booked for dissent following the decision to award Linfield a free-kick on the half-way line on 54 minutes – picked up a second booking for grabbing the ball after going to ground when Joel Cooper nicked the ball off him in a promising position. United manager Jim Ervin argued the decision on the basis that he felt Cooper fouled O’Donnell first.
The Blues then lifted the tempo in the final 20 minutes. Fitzpatrick had a good chance with a header from a Millar cross, but it was well saved. A period of relentless pressure followed with United players putting bodies on the line to make block after block.
Linfield manager David Healy’s substitutions proved to be key in digging out the victory. On 76 minutes, he introduced Rhys Annett in place of wing-back Ethan McGee. The young forward was only on the pitch for two minutes before he came up with a big goal, rising at the near post to head in an inviting cross from Kirk Millar. It was Annett’s first goal of the season.
A man down and a goal down, United had nothing to lose and came out more in search of a late equaliser. They forced a couple of long throw-ins and corners into the Linfield box, but the Blues defended all, so the Sky Blues didn’t have any real notable chances. David Walsh had a comfortable afternoon in the Linfield goal.
There was a late blow for the Blues when Josh Archer pulled up on 89 minutes and had to be withdrawn as Cameron Ballantyne came on in his place. With Ben Hall, Sam Roscoe, Euan East, Kyle McClean, Stephen Fallon, Chris McKee and Robbie McDaid all currently injured, any kind of setback for Archer would be far from ideal.
The Blues then settled any lingering doubts by adding a second goal on 90 minutes when Chris Shields’ long ball was well won by Rhys Annett whose aerial flick-on put Kirk Millar through on goal. Millar took a touch before slotting the ball into the far corner for his fifth goal of the season.
Annett’s goal and assist contributions will have been exactly the impact his manager David Healy would have been wanting from him. It is a scenario which seemed very unlikely back at the beginning of October when the forward was stretchered off against his former team, Dundela, with what some feared at the time to be a possible season-ending injury. Thankfully, it wasn’t as bad as first feared. Annett celebrated his 20th birthday during the week, so this was very much the icing on the cake.
Linfield could even have added a third goal in stoppage time – Joel Cooper put Matthew Fitzpatrick through on goal, but the striker went for power and blasted his shot over the crossbar. Nonetheless, David Healy will be pleased with the win and clean sheet against a team who won eight matches on the spin not long ago.
The victory maintains the Blues’ five-point lead at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership. Next up is a trip to Inver Park next Saturday evening (17:30 kick-off) to face Larne.
FT: Linfield 2-0 Ballymena United
Linfieldfc.com Man of the Match: Kirk Millar
Written by Jamie Megarry
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