Linfield made it two wins from two in the Sports Direct Premiership when they defeated Dungannon Swifts by three goals to one at Windsor Park this afternoon courtesy of three first-half goals inside the space of eight minutes.
The match was a slow-burner, with the opening 25 minutes largely uneventful. There was one opportunity in the opening 25 minutes, and it was a big one for Dungannon Swifts. Rodney McAree’s men worked it well, with Andrew Mitchell getting the ball on the left and hammering a low cross right across the Linfield six-yard box where James Knowles got on the end of it, but he couldn’t keep his effort down. Had he scored, it could have changed the complexion of the match.
The Blues then took the lead in the 28th minute with a well-worked goal. Chris Shields played a sweeping cross-field pass to Ethan McGee high on the right side and the wing-back took it down to tee up Joel Cooper who swiftly rifled a 20-yard shot low into the net.
With their backs up after the goal, David Healy’s men doubled their lead five minutes later following two dangerous attacks. The second goal came about when Joel Cooper’s dangerous cross from the left was retrieved by Kirk Millar who hung up a cross to the back post. Matthew Fitzpatrick challenge aerially and it dropped for ‘Man of the Match’ Kyle McClean who opened his account for the season with a volley which he clinically buried into the top corner for his first goal of the season.
The Blues then went three goals up just three minutes after the second goal. The ball came out the direction of Chris Shields outside the Dungannon Swifts box, and he chested the ball down to hammer in a volley with the help of a slight deflection. It’s two in two for Shields, who also netted in last weekend’s opening day win at Ballymena.
The three-goal lead probably flattered the Blues at that stage of the match, however it was a credit to their ruthlessness – something which the manager regularly asks of his team, to take advantage of any opportunities that come along.
The Swifts almost pulled a goal back in the latter stages of the half, when Kealan Dillon’s free-kick delivery from the left side was headed just wide of the far post by Adam Glenny who got a glancing head on it. Euan East also went close to adding a fourth for the Blues, however his goalbound shot was blocked.
HT: Linfield 3-0 Dungannon Swifts
Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree made two changes at the break – one of which was to introduce Thomas Maguire – and the right winger made an almost instant impact. It was in the 48th minute when he got down the right and put in a dangerous cross which Swifts full-back Adam Glenny latched on to at the back post area, from where he hammered in an excellent finish inside the far post.
For whatever reason, the Blues never really kicked on in the second half after leading by three at the break, however they did have a number of opportunities to add to their lead. Despite the Swifts’ early second-half goal, the Blues didn’t look like they were going to surrender their lead.
Kirk Millar’s crossing ability was at the heart of a lot of the Blues’ missed chances. He picked out Fitzpatrick free in the middle one on occasion, however the ball got stuck under the striker’s foot and the opportunity passed. Millar also picked out Roscoe with a free-kick and the big defender headed just wide with a near-post diving header.
Euan East also went close with a volley on his weaker right foot at the back post. It was another strong performance from the Scotsman in his new role at left-back and if he’d scored it would have been a deserved goal. East went off in the 72nd minute after pulling up with cramp, having recently returned from a lengthy injury lay-off.
In the 70th minute, David Healy handed a second Linfield debut to Charlie Allen who recently returned to the Blues after a spell with Leeds United. The young attacking midfielder looked tidy on his debut and even crafted out a great chance with a through ball that put Fitzpatrick through on goal, however the forward was unable to take the ball around the onrushing ‘keeper.
Fitzpatrick headed the ball on to Joel Cooper inside the box in the latter stages, but the winger saw his shot flash wide of the far post by a matter of inches, and so the scoreline remained at 3-1.
David Healy will be satisfied with this afternoon’s work, having been run close in four matches against Dungannon Swifts last season, coming from 3-1 behind to win 4-3 on one occasion, and also losing 2-1 to the Swifts back in January. It’s a quick turnaround now for the Blues who travel to Lurgan to face Glenavon at Mourneview Park this coming Tuesday.
FT: Linfield 3-1 Dungannon Swifts
Written by Jamie Megarry