Linfield open up eight point lead at the top
Red-hot Lavery makes sure to help Linfield throw down the gauntlet
EIGHT points — that’s the gap between leaders Linfield and second-placed Coleraine now. Oran Kearney’s men have two games in hand but it’s the champions who are in control of the title race.
At the start of this month, the Blues had serious questions to answer after a crushing defeat at Glentoran. Since then, they have beaten Cliftonville, Warrenpoint and Carrick at Windsor Park and last night overcame an enterprising Dungannon Swifts side in a thoroughly entertaining encounter, taking their tally to 12 points from 12 with 16 goals scored and none conceded.
Against the Tyrone outfit, Joel Cooper netted a first-half opener for David Healy’s side before playing a key role in a breathtaking team goal finished by the in-form Shayne Lavery after the break. If they keep that winning form going on Friday night away to Crusaders, they will go 11 clear before the Bannsiders play again.
A trip to Seaview is always a test for the Blues. Mind you, so was their clash with Dungannon in a contest that had a Northern Ireland feel about it with Healy joined by new Dungannon boss Dean Shiels on the sidelines. Throw in Roy Carroll starting and Rory Patterson on the bench for the visitors, Blues duo Jamie Mulgrew and Shayne Lavery and there was a potentially tasty international six-a-side team.
For all his football life, Shiels’ philosophy has been to pass the ball out from the back and through the thirds. Refreshingly, he didn’t change that view at the home of the champions.
In the opening exchanges, Dungannon were pinging the ball about with confidence though Linfield being Linfield soon pushed the bottom-of-the-table side back. Kirk Millar’s strike hit the bar before the same player provided headed opportunities for Jordan Stewart and Jimmy Callacher, whose efforts were off target. Cooper did head the ball into the net but it was ruled out for a foul in the box.
At the other end, Shiels’ outfit caused a few flutters; Daniel Hughes didn’t have the pace to take him away from Callacher for a clear run on goal, while Dougie Wilson was inches away from connecting with a corner.
A touch of quality from Cooper on 41 minutes gave Linfield the breakthrough they craved. Cameron Palmer was clever enough to dummy the ball in the box and Cooper did the rest, firing in past the diving Carroll.
Shortly after the interval, Mil
lar crashed a free-kick off the post, with Stewart turning in the rebound only to be given offside, much to his frustration. He wasn’t the only player to have those emotions about the officials.
Linfield grabbed their second on 52 minutes and it was one of the goals of the season. Playing the ball around at the back, goalkeeper Chris Johns passed wide to Niall Quinn, whose pass up the line to Cooper was sensational. The winger was next to show his class with a sublime cross for Lavery to hammer home. Breathtaking!
How there were not more goals no one knows. Poor finishing and Carroll were the reasons why for Linfield, while in a late flurry Dungannon’s Michael Carvill hit the post and they had two efforts cleared off the line.
The football at times from both teams was a joy to watch. Dungannon will go places under Shiels. Healy’s Linfield are on course for another title.
LINFIELD: Johns, Haughey, Callacher, Stewart, Millar (Nasseri 83), Lavery (Waterworth 83), Mulgrew, Pepper, Quinn, Palmer, Cooper.
Subs not used: Moore, Larkin, Clarke, Mcgivern, Archer.
DUNGANNON SWIFTS: Carroll, Coyle, Wilson (Mcgee 72), Byers, Mcaleer (Forde 64), Hughes, Campbell, Patton, Carvill (Patterson 77), Glenny, Smyth.
Subs not used: Johnson, Gallagher, Mayse,
Convie.
Referee: Steven Gregg (Ballyclare)
Man of the match: Joel Cooper
Match rating: 8/10