SWIFTS & DEADLY

Four-goal Waterworth guns down Dungannon

ACE predator Andy Waterworth dined out on FOUR goals as Linfield marched nine points clear at the top of the Premiership last night.

Defender Jimmy Callacher was also on target with a trademark set-piece header as the Blues ran riot against off-colour Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park.

Victory eased David Healy’s men nine clear although second-placed Ballymena United can cut the gap at home to Warrenpoint Town this afternoon.

Man of the match Waterworth said: “We’ve maybe been a bit off colour of late but we really clicked and it was an important win.

“That’s probably the best we have played in the last month or two and we took the game by the scruff of the neck. When you’re a striker you thrive off good delivery into the box and thankfully I was able to capitalise on that tonight.”

In the absence of regular keeper Alex Moore, prohibited from playing against his parent club, Evan Moran was making only his third appearance for the Swifts.

And the former

Bray Wanderers shot stopper was picking the ball out of the net seven minutes in when Jordan Stewart wriggled free to cross for Waterworth to head home.

It was 2-0 four minutes later when the same double act combined to round off a slick move.

Andy Mitchell released Stewart DANSKE BANK PREMIER with a perfectly weighted pass and with just Moran to beat, he unselfishly squared for Waterworth to roll the ball into the empty net. It was one-way traffic and 3-0 in the 25th minute when Callacher (inset) rose at the back post to head a Mitchell free kick past Moran for his 10th goal of the season. Waterworth got his hat-trick in the 56th minute when he forced home and made it 5-0 with his fourth – his 28th of the season – when Daniel Kearns whipped a ball across goal for the striker to net. Waterworth, now with 152 goals in 262 games for Linfield, received a standing ovation when he was replaced 15 minutes from time.