Linfield made a positive response to last Friday’s disappointing cup defeat to Limavady with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Dungannon Swifts at Windsor Park this evening.
David Healy made two changes to his team – Sam Taylor and Adam Frizzell in, in place of Matt Yates and Isaac Baird. The pace, energy and directness of Taylor in particular brought a lot of life to the Linfield performance which was one of the big differences from Friday. The Blues found that ruthless edge that David Healy has often searched for from his side this season, with some really terrific goals.
There was a lively start to the match – both teams showed attacking intent early on. The visitors were first to threaten in the opening minutes with a quick break as Kealan Dillon found Adam Glenny to the left, and his low shot was saved by Johns. Leo Alves went close to an opener for the visitors too, when he showed quick feet to work room for a shot which flashed just over.
The Blues were also a whisker away from scoring in the early stages as a quick break saw Kirk Millar release Matthew Fitzpatrick to his right. The forward squared the ball and it made its way through to Sam Taylor at the back post area, but the impressive Englishman was unlucky to see his low shot cleared off the line by Steven Scott who did brilliantly.
Ethan McGee also had a chance early on, and he’ll be disappointed he didn’t score against his old team as he had the goal at his mercy when Kirk Millar’s corner delivery picked out the defender in space at the back post – but he headed the ball down into the ground and it bounced over the crossbar.
After those early chances at both ends, the breakthrough in the match arrived after 20 minutes and it went Linfield’s way. Ethan McGee surged forward into space just outside Dungannon’s box. The defender was well entitled to have a pop, but he unselfishly slipped the ball through to Matthew Fitzpatrick who held off a defender before firing a low shot past the ‘keeper for his 15th goal of the season.
The Blues had a big chance to double their lead just eight minutes later with a quick break after Dungannon lost the ball just outside their box. Fitzpatrick put Kirk Millar through on goal, but Swifts left back Adam Glenny did brilliantly to nip in and make a last-ditch block. The Dungannon goalkeeper Declan Dunne made a good save on the rebound and took a knock in the process but was able to continue after treatment.
The next goal was going to be important. Dungannon Swifts threatened twice through Larne loanee striker Kobei Moore. Firstly, the Englishman got in behind and drew a save from Chris Johns at his near post. Then, shortly after, Ben Hall was dispossessed in a dangerous area before Darragh Leahy made an excellent goal-saving challenge to deny the forward.
Up the other end, the Blues went close as Sam Taylor cushioned the ball down for Josh Archer to unleash a strike from 15 yards, but the ‘keeper did brilliantly to turn the piledriver past the post.
The second goal then arrived on 42 minutes, a decisive goal as Linfield doubled their lead just before the break. Scottish attacker Adam Frizzell did well, not only to keep the ball in play but also to pull the ball back to Kyle McClean who swept in a low left-footed strike for his third goal of the season.
HT: LINFIELD 2-0 DUNGANNON SWIFTS
The Blues carried the same attacking, purposeful intent into the second half as they looked to put the game to bed. Frizzell latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the box, volleying over with his weaker right foot. Minutes later, Frizzell played an inch-perfect through ball to put Sam Taylor through on goal, but he had to use his weaker right foot and the ‘keeper was able to save.
On the hour-mark, David Healy introduced Sean Brown and Isaac Baird off the bench and they made an impact within two minutes as the Blues made it 3-0. A neat passage of play down the right was finished off with a precise through ball from Sean Brown releasing Ethan McGee away down the right side of the box and he squared it for Isaac Baird to tuck the ball in from close range for his fourth goal of the season.
Dungannon Swifts’ new central midfielder Shea Gordon had a good chance to pull one back, but he pulled a shot just wide of the post. The Blues then added a fourth goal as Darragh Leahy stormed forward and pulled the ball across to the front post area where Matthew Fitzpatrick stylishly flicked the ball in.
It was 5-0 on 87 minutes as Matthew Fitzpatrick completed his second ever Linfield hat-trick – his first coming in the fifth round of the Irish Cup last season against Wellington Rec. This was another superb finish, and again it was assisted by Darragh Leahy who got forward and up the left wing to cross. This time, Fitzpatrick was in mid-air when he flicked the ball over the ‘keeper and into the far corner for his 17th goal of the season.
Sean Brown rounded off the scoring in stoppage time with his first goal in Linfield colours. It was another excellent Linfield goal as Kyle McClean’s deep cross found Charlie Allen peeling off into space at the back post and he cushioned the ball down for Brown who leathered in a fierce first-time strike.
This was the Blues’ 2,000th league victory in their history.
It was exactly what Linfield needed and it’ll be the standard David Healy will want to see from his team on a more consistent basis going forward, starting with Saturday’s trip to Lurgan to face Glenavon. The Blues will have to be on their game having been turned over at Mourneview Park less than two months ago.
FT: LINFIELD 6-0 DUNGANNON SWIFTS
Linfieldfc.com Man of the Match: Matthew Fitzpatrick
LINFIELD: Chris Johns (GK), Ethan McGee, Ben Hall, Darragh Leahy, Euan East (Charlie Allen 70’), Josh Archer (Alex Gorrin 78’), Kyle McClean ©, Kirk Millar (Isaac Baird 60’), Adam Frizzell (Sean Brown 60’), Sam Taylor, Matthew Fitzpatrick
Unused subs: David Walsh (GK), Chris McKee, Matt Yates
DUNGANNON SWIFTS: Declan Dunne (GK), Steven Scott, Caolan Marron, Cahal McGinty ©, Adam Glenny, Paul Doyle (Sean McAllister 59’), Shea Gordon, Tiernan Kelly (Gael Bigirimana 59’), Kealan Dillon (Corey Smith 59’), Leo Alves (James Knowles 73’), Kobei Moore (Andrew Mitchell 73’)
Unused subs: Alex Henderson (GK), Danny Wallace
REFEREE: Shane McGonigle
Yellow cards: Kealan Dillon, Sean McAllister & Cahal McGinty (Dungannon Swifts), Isaac Baird & David Healy