Linfield progressed to the last sixteen of the Bet McLean Cup with a 2-0 win over Queens University at a very drizzly Windsor Park last night.
With the match sandwiched in between two Friday league matches, David Healy used the opportunity to ring the changes – 10 in total – to give valuable minutes to members of the squad who were in need of them.
The Blues were dominant from the start, with Chris McKee heavily involved as the record 36-time winners went in search of an opening goal. The forward played a neat pass through to Morrison in the opening five minutes, but the Scotsman was denied from a tight angle by goalkeeper Neil Shields.
In the ninth minute, McKee then put the ball in the back of the net, but it was immediately disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper which forced him to drop the ball after a cross came in.
Soon after, Sam Taylor drilled a low strike at goal from 20 yards, but Shields produced great handling to stop the shot and to keep hold of it.
Taylor was denied again in the 12th minute. The Englishman looked certain to score from close range, but Queens full-back David Elliott produced a brilliant last-ditch block.
The breakthrough then arrived in the 18th minute as Linfield’s two Carrickfergus-natives combined. Charlie Allen got on the ball out the left and whipped in a right-footed cross for his travel partner Chris McKee who produced a good finish, heading the ball into the far corner as the forward netted for the second match in a row and his third goal of the season.
The match quietened down for ten or fifteen minutes after the goal until McKee almost grabbed a second goal for himself and for Linfield. A cross from the right was delivered by Kieran Offord before McKee’s header drew an excellent save from the goalkeeper at full stretch down to his right.
Queens had one good opportunity on the night as they almost equalised five minutes before the break. They won a corner from a fortuitous deflection and it was delivered by Ronan Young and met by central defender Tommy Smyth at the back post area. The 21-year-old – who briefly played for Linfield Swifts in 2020 – rose well but was denied by a good save by David Walsh.
McKee then went close again in the closing minutes of the first half as he was found by McCullough inside the box before turning swiftly and rattling the outside of the post with a well-struck left-footed shot.
HT: LINFIELD 1-0 QUEENS UNIVERSITY BELFAST
The Blues got off to a good start in the second half as they doubled their lead in the 51st minute. Having been initially denied as Morrison’s deep cross found Taylor in space at the back post before his volley was well saved by the ‘keeper, the ball went for a corner which was taken short to Taylor. The Englishman crossed from the right, and although he didn’t connect as cleanly as he’d have liked, the ball still managed to trickle its way through a crowded box to the edge of the six-yard box where Scotsman, Matt Yates was waiting to tuck home his first goal in a Linfield shirt.
Midway through the second half, Scot Whiteside glanced a header wide from Taylor’s corner and soon after, the impressive Shields made another two good saves in quick succession. Firstly, he pushed a 20-yard half-volley from Kieran Offord around the post and, from the resulting corner, he saved well at his near post to beat away an effort from Charlie Allen.
In the latter stages, inspired former Crusaders goalkeeper Shields made one more good save as he sprung down to his right to keep out a curling effort from Sam Taylor. The experienced goalkeeper deserves plaudits for keeping the score down.
It’s job done for the Blues who will aim to win the competition for the third time in four years. Although it’s always been a valued competition, there’s extra incentive for teams to try and win it now that, starting from this season, the winner gains entry to UEFA Conference League qualifying.
The draw for the last sixteen won’t take place until the rest of the ties are played next Tuesday.
Focus for Linfield now turns to an important League clash against Crusaders at Windsor Park this Friday evening. The match will not be televised.
FT: LINFIELD 2-0 QUEENS UNIVERSITY BELFAST
LINFIELD: David Walsh (GK), Ethan McGee, Scot Whiteside, Dane McCullough, Sam Taylor (Kirk Millar 85’), Josh Archer, Matt Yates, Callumn Morrison, Charlie Allen, Chris McKee ©, Kieran Offord (Matthew Fitzpatrick 70’)
Unused subs: Chris Johns (GK), Sam Roscoe, Sean Brown, Isaac Baird, Kyle McClean
QUB: Neil Shields (GK), Tommy Smyth, Dan Mairs, David Elliott, Marc McKenna (Jack Ovens 85’), Benjamin Mulgrew, Johnny Mairs (Cole McElnea 85’), Daniel Dillon (Adam Dorans 90’), Christopher Middleton, Ronan Young (Eoin Conlon 71’), Matthew Hughes © (Ambrose Ajala 71’)
Unused subs: Andrew Gawne (GK), Aaron Keenan
YELLOW CARDS: Scot Whiteside & Ethan McGee (Linfield), Benjamin Mulgrew (Queens)
REFEREE: Niall Devlin