Linfield’s positive start to the season continued this afternoon as the Blues made it four victories from their opening four Sports Direct Premiership fixtures with a 5-1 win over Loughgall at Windsor Park – a win which puts the Blues two points clear at the top at this early stage.
The Blues were rampant in the first half. Although Loughgall survived an early scare when full-back Jamie Rea sliced Euan East’s teasing cross against his own post, the Blues still went on to take an early lead. It came in the tenth minute as a Linfield penalty was awarded for handball from Andrew Hoey on the end of Joel Cooper’s 25-yard free-kick effort. Once the penalty was awarded, Chris McKee stepped up to the spot to score his second goal of the season, sending the ‘keeper the opposite direction.
Linfield’s early goal set the tone for a blistering first half. In the sixteenth minute, Loughgall ‘keeper Nathan Gartside made a good save to tip Chris McKee’s stabbed effort around the post. However, there was nothing he could do a minute later as the Blues doubled their lead. Sam Roscoe rose to power in a header from the resulting corner supplied by Joel Cooper, a goal which was the 950th of David Healy’s reign, and the first of Roscoe’s second spell at the club.
The Blues continued to press Loughgall, not giving them a minute’s peace and hammering efforts at goal. McKee was unlucky twice in quick succession – firstly, having a snapshot well saved as Gartside beat away the effort, and soon after he was slipped through by Joel Cooper’s neat pass form which the striker drilled a low shot agonisingly wide of the far post.
Sam Roscoe then found himself unchallenged to meet Kirk Millar’s corner to the back post area, however he passed up the great chance as he was unable to keep his header down.
David Healy’s men did then get a deserved third goal which arrived on 29 minutes. Chris McKee slid the ball through to Joel Cooper who breezed through the heart of the Loughgall defence with a run in between the two central defenders before cooling slotting the ball in from 12 yards. For the third game in a row, the Blues were three ahead before half-time.
Things got even better as the early League leaders added a fourth goal in the 38th minute. Following a corner, Joel Cooper whipped in a tantalising cross which Sam Roscoe got across his man to glance a header into the far corner of the net. It was the first time he’d ever scored twice in one match, though perhaps it will only add to the frustration of the header he missed in between his two goals, because he could have been walking away with the matchball.
It was almost five before the break as Joel Cooper went through on goal, however Nathan Gartside stood tall and make another good save. On the balance of play, and considerate of the chances missed, Linfield were unfortunate to be ahead by more at the break after an excellent first-half display.
HT: Linfield 4-0 Loughgall
The second half didn’t quite reach the heights of the first half for Linfield, though there were still several chances which the Blues could have taken. David Healy’s men went close two minutes after the restart with a good move down the right, McGee sending McClean away and he crossed to the front post where the stooping Matthew Fitzpatrick headed just wide.
Loughgall then went up the other end and forced a save from Chris Johns. Former Blues youth player Pablo Andrade hit a sweet strike from distance and it swerved awkwardly in front of Johns who took no chances and parried it out on his 200th Linfield appearance.
The Blues scored to make it 5-0 in the 59th minute. Kirk Millar excellently delivered a free-kick from the right, picking out Ethan McGee who’d wriggled free at the back post area to head in just a day after his 22nd birthday.
Chris McKee missed a good opportunity to make it six as he blasted over from Cooper’s cutback, before Loughgall netted a consolation goal on 67 minutes as Jay Boyd’s pinpoint through ball allowed Ryan Waide to beat Chris Johns to the ball and go past the ‘keeper before the former Linfield player finished very neatly from a tight angle against his former club.
The Blues had further opportunities to restore their five-goal advantage, like when substitute Cammy Ballantyne slid Joel Cooper through on goal. However, the winger was hesitant, almost as if he thought he was offside, but the flag never came and Loughgall ‘keeper Gartside made a double save. He also made another good save a minute later, denying McBrien from Millar’s cutback following a good tackle by substitute Charlie Allen.
McBrien had another opportunity on 79 minutes which the tenacity of the winger earned with the help of Ballantyne, winning the break of the ball inside the box before firing over from 12 yards. Gartside then made one last excellent save on 87 minutes, tipping Rhys Annett’s 20-yard curling effort around the post to ensure it finished 5-1.
With speculation around the future of Linfield manager David Healy for 24 hours before the match, this was a commendable, professional display from the Linfield team who clearly weren’t distracted.
The Blues’ next outing is a trip to Shamrock Park to face newly-promoted Portadown next Friday – a Sports Direct Premiership fixture but a repeat of last year’s League Cup Final.
FT: Linfield 5-1 Loughgall
Written by Jamie Megarry
