Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WINF FIELD
Jeffrey gets his f and believes they that are benchmark fo First close look at champs have very talented squad or rest of league to follow
IF Linfield play to this level of intensity and individual quality every week it would take a brave man to bet against them lifting the Gibson Cup next summer.
Blues boss David Healy described the win as “controlled” and few filtering out of the Showgrounds on Saturday night will argue with that assessment.
David Jeffrey went further, declaring Linfield, who won it with goals from Kirk Millar, Navid Nasseri and Jordan Stewart, firm title favourites this season.
Asked by reporters if the Blues will be the benchmark in the months ahead, the seasoned Ballymena boss replied: “Without a doubt, they have a team of very talented players.
“To be fair to them, they passed the ball very well, they interchange very well, they are a very good side and have a good squad of players.”
While Jeffrey’s new look Sky Blues - five summer signings were in the starting line-up – fired in patches, the champions performed and purred like a well oiled machine.
It may have ended 3-2, but for the most part Linfield had Ballymena playing catch-up for long periods of the game.
“Very pleased with our performance,” was Healy’s post match verdict. “Ballymena are a good side, they’re fresh, young and hungry and they were outstanding at Coleraine.
“We knew we’d face a challenge, but without sounding disrespectful, I thought we were in control for large parts of the game.”
Linfield went ahead in the ninth minute when Millar latched onto a Nasseri cross to spin adroitly and fire into the bottom corner.
It was 2-0 in the 37th minute when Nasseri mesmerised United captain and veteran defender Jim Ervin with a blur of step overs before curling a classy shot into the top corner.
Ervin, who could do little but bide for time as Nasseri bore down on goal, said: “He has two good feet and he can go either way, so it’s one of those things.
“Na s s e r i h i t the crossbar with a similar effort a little earlier and
I don’t think he could have hit this one any sweeter.”
United were back in it before the break when
Paul Mcelroy swe pt home his first goal for
WELL DONE HEALY But Jeffrey can’t mask his feelings at the end of the game
CLASS ACT Navid Nasseri (15) following his wonder strike the club from the penalty spot after Shay Mccartan was sent sprawling by Jamie Mulgrew.
But the Blues were in control again when they restored their two goal advantage in the 54th minute, Millar flighting a cross for Stewart to convert at the back post.
How the diminutive forward – the smallest player on the pitch – was allowed to ghost in and head home from five yards out is anyone’s guess.
“That was a big goal and Kirk’s ability to deliver a pinpoint cross on a bobbly pitch was exceptional,” said Healy. “It gave us breathing space to go on and win the game.”
Ervin, who had a close-up view of Stewart’s fourth goal of the season, said: “We got caught napping and that goal took the sting out of the game.”
Ballymena pulled one back with virtually the last touch of the ball, Leroy Millar heading home a Ross Redman cross seconds before referee Shane Andrews blew for time.
“What hurt us the most was the third goal,” said Jeffrey. “It proved very costly because for the work and effort we got through, I felt we were worth a point.
“The pleasing thing is that we’re a new side and last season at 3-1 down we might have capitulated. That didn’t happen. We kept going.”
FINAL RESPONSE United’s Leroy Millar heads in a late reply