A‘ FIELD DAY

Champions off to a flyer at Seaview

CHAMPIONS Linfield made a statement of intent by sweeping a lacklustre Crusaders aside for an opening day win at Windsor Park.

Christy Manzinga has big boots to fill this season after Shayne Lavery’s move to Blackpool but the French forward got his campaign off to a flier yesterday with a brace of well-taken goals.

The Blues bossed possession early on without doing much with it, as Crusaders crouched behind their guard and sought to raid on the counter.

The visitors’ tactics almost paid off in the 13th minute when Jarlath O’Rourke broke forward from left-back and sent in a teasing cross that Ben Kennedy should have buried but he made a hash of the header from 10 yards out.

Linfield defender Jimmy Callacher showed Kennedy how it’s done a couple of minutes later, getting a meaty header on a Kirk Millar corner only for the ball to rebound off Crues keeper Jonny Tuffey from close range when a goal seemed certain.

Another promising attack from Crusaders fizzled out when Paul Heatley slapped a weak left-foot shot wide when a simple pass to striker Adam Lecky was the better option. Declan Caddell then saw his well-struck shot deflected over by Chris Shields’ lunging block as the home side began to look a little shaky at the back.

But Crusaders also showed they were vulnerable in defence as they failed to learn from their earlier let-off and conceded the opener from a straightforward corner routine just past the half hour mark.

As ever, Millar’s delivery was bang on the money and when Trai Hume headed back across goal, Christy Manzinga rose to nod home, generating a welcome burst of acclaim from the returning home fans.

Daniel Larmour’s looped header from a Kennedy corner was the best the Crues could muster in response before the break but Blues keeper Chris Johns wasn’t unduly troubled.

David Healy’s (left) men came racing out of the blocks at the start of the second half and a lovely flowing move involving Cammy Palmer, Billy Chadwick and Millar ended with Chadwick’s shot being blocked by Tuffey. Another brilliant move later and it was 2-0. The imperious Callacher stepped out of defence to break up an aimless Crusaders attack then strode forward to slip a pass down the left channel for Manzinga, who brushed Billy

Joe Burns aside before calmly bending the ball into the net.

Kennedy lashed a left-foot shot well over as Crues tried to mount a comeback but it was

Linfield sub Matthew Green came closest to adding to the scoreline, only to flare a shot wide from a narrow angle when facing Tuffey in a one-on-one.