The Blues are made to go the extra mile

BALLINAMALLARD gave holders Linfield a major scare in the second round of the Bet Mclean Cup last night.

The match had to be rearranged from its initial August date because of the Blues’ Europa League run but it was the Mallards who were quickest out of the blocks at Ferney Park as Ryan Campbell gave them the lead with a hooked shot past Gareth Deane in the fourth minute.

It took David Healy’s side half an hour to get themselves on level terms when Shayne Lavery rose to head in Kirk Millar’s corner.

Four minutes later the visitors were in front as Ryan Mcgivern finished well from close range after Andrew Waterworth played a short corner from Millar into the box.

Ten minutes after the break Campbell restored parity with a close-range header and then in the

75th minute Callum Moorehead poked in Jason Mccartney’s cross from the left.

Just when last year’s beaten Irish Cup finalists looked to be on the verge of causing a major upset Daniel Reynolds applied the final touch after a goalmouth scramble and then Jimmy Callacher struck the woodwork.

Four minutes into extra-time Ben Mccann deflected the ball into his own net and then Waterworth was on hand to convert Millar’s right-wing cross.

Mcevoy pulled one back for Harry Mcconkey’s men with a well-placed shot in the 119th minute but is was to prove too little too late for the underdogs.

Linfield will travel to Stangmore Park to face Dungannon Swifts in the last 16 stage of the competition on October 8.

ON SONG Shayne Lavery