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Linfield put in a strong performance to deservedly see off Dungannon Swifts at Windsor Park in the Irish Cup this afternoon and will progress to the Quarter Final stage where they’ll play Loughgall away from home this coming Tuesday evening.

There was quite a start to the game with Linfield taking the lead after eight minutes. Navid Nasseri made a darting run in behind and was picked out by a brilliant pass over the top by Cammy Palmer. Nasseri ran in, dribbled past Roy Carroll but just as he was about to tap it in, a backtracking defender did the job for him with an own goal.

But the Blues’ lead only lasted one minute as Dungannon Swifts’ responded with a quick leveller. It was a good goal with a pinpoint cross coming in from the right side from Shane McGinty and Caolin Coyle produced a nice header into the corner after a strong leap.

Four minutes later Linfield were almost back in front when Matthew Clarke got into a position in space high up on the left before picking out Stephen Fallon just inside the box. The midfielder hit a bouncing ball first time on the volley with a clever cushioned effort with the outside of his right foot and he was unfortunate as the ball flashed just wide of the far post. Minutes after that, another let-off for Dungannon as Christy Manzinga whipped in a delightful cross across the face of goal but there were no takers.

However, the Blues were back in front after 34 minutes and Stephen Fallon did get his goal this time. The build-up from Linfield was nice with Nasseri playing the ball out right to Pepper who gave it to Cooper and received it back on the right side of the box. Overlapping full-back Pepper tried to squeeze a low cross in which was blocked and the defender will be disappointed not to have cleared before Andy Waterworth latched onto it, squaring a reserve ball for Stephen Fallon who couldn’t have missed from close range.

As Linfield looked for a third before half-time, a short corner was worked to Cammy Palmer who curled a shot at goal from 25 yards and it was cleared from Shane McGinty in front of the post when it was hard to tell whether Roy Carroll would have saved it from going into the corner otherwise. Christy Manzinga also threatened when he cut in from the left and aimed for the top corner but fired over.

Half Time: Linfield 2 – 1 Dungannon Swifts

Linfield put in a strong second half performance and went 3-1 up eleven minutes into the half. Christy Manzinga was the orchestrator of the goal as he beat Dungannon full-back Coyle out right and raced into the box and his low shot was deflected across the face of goal before Andy Waterworth did what he does best to instinctively pop up and score from two yards out.

Six minutes later Waterworth and Linfield scored again to put one foot in the Irish Cup Quarter Final draw. The Blues had tried a few short corner routines and this one worked to a tee. It was clever stuff as the corner was played short to Joel Cooper and he slipped the ball in to Cammy Palmer who set off on a late run surging into the box and his low shot across goal was converted from close range by Waterworth with another typical poacher’s goal.

On 66 minutes veteran ex-Linfield goalkeeper Roy Carroll had to be withdrawn with an injury and his replacement Sam Johnston was called into action within a minute of his arrival. Matthew Clarke put in a deep cross and Jimmy Callacher met it with good purchase on his header and Johnston made a great save to keep it out and unfortunately, Andy Waterworth couldn’t quite adjust his feet to convert the rebound.

Dungannon almost made it 4-2 when their substitute left winger Caolan McAlear got a cross in and he picked out Rory Patterson whose close-range shot drew a great reflex save from close range.

In the 90th minute Linfield added a fifth goal and it came through Man of the Match, Cammy Palmer. Plaudits must also go to Joel Cooper for providing it for bursting down the right and firing in a pinpoint cross to pick out Palmer as the former Rangers midfielder arrived into the box to fire the ball low into the net.

The scoring didn’t stop there, however, as Dungannon netted a consolation goal in added time. It was a terrific goal from Swifts midfielder Shane McGinty who whipped a 25 yard strike into the far top corner, Yaya Toure-esque.

Full Time: Linfield 5 – 2 Dungannon Swifts

LinfieldFC.com Man of the Match: Cammy Palmer

Match Images

1. David Healy : Our level of performance was good
2. Manager’s programme notes
3. Kirk Millar programme article