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Linfield were unable to close the gap on early league leaders Cliftonville as the Reds took a point from Windsor Park under the floodlights this evening, with Joe Gormley’s second half header cancelling out Jordan Stewart’s early Linfield goal.

Stewart’s early goal came after seven minutes. Chris Shields started the move as he brought the ball out from the defensive third and played a good ball to Billy Chadwick in the left channel. The young Hull City loanee cut in and intelligently slid it across to Jordan Stewart who shifted the ball onto his left foot and fired an emphatic strike high into the net past Declan Dunne from 15 yards.

The match quietened down for around 25 minutes after the opening goal with Linfield edging it. Half chances fell for Jonny Addis who glanced wide for Cliftonville from a corner delivery, and for Joe Gormley who pounced on the ball when Linfield overplayed at the back, but the striker was denied by a good block by Jimmy Callacher. Jordan Stewart also attempted to net a second when he set the ball with class to tee himself up for an attempted volley over the goalkeeper when the ball landed at his feet on the edge of the box, but his lob was over the bar by a few yards.

In a more clear-cut chance Stephen Fallon had a good opportunity to double Linfield’s lead. It was a good move from the champions as Jordan Stewart slipped Kirk Millar the ball on the right and the winger picked out Stephen Fallon just inside the box but when picked out he swept a shot over the bar.

Matthew Clarke’s header from a deep Trai Hume cross to the back post flashed across goal and just wide of the post, and soon after, Linfield had a penalty appeal waved away as Chris Gallagher had a nibble at Cammy Palmer who was driving into the box, but Gallagher was seen by the referee to have poked the ball when he put a toe in from behind.

Young full-back Hume showed his attacking capabilities once again a few minutes later with a lung-busting run from deep before a great pass to Billy Chadwick who was 1v1 with a Cliftonville defender. Chadwick tried to go beyond the defender but was smothered out and will perhaps regret not pulling the trigger when he had the chance.

Half Time: Linfield 1 – 0 Cliftonville

The Blues edged the first half, but Cliftonville had the better of the second and in the first goalmouth action of the second half The Reds levelled on 57 minutes when winger Jamie McDonagh put in a pinpoint cross from deep for talisman Joe Gormley to run off the shoulder and head a downward header past Chris Johns from close range.

After that you could see the effects on the Linfield team of the demanding derby fixture played against Glentoran a few days ago and a refreshed Cliftonville believed they could win it.

Cliftonville had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Rory Hale pounced upon a weak backpass in the box and he teed up Ryan Curran who fired his strike wide of the post from ten yards.

Niall Quinn switched it to the surging Matthew Clarke on the left and he played a one-two with Ahmed Salam before his low shot was well held by the goalkeeper.

Stephen Fallon went agonisingly close to winning it on 87 minutes when he went on a surging run before the ball sat up nicely for a volley which whistled just inches wide of the far post.

Then Cliftonville thought they could have had a shot at winning it when Rory Hale slipped a ball through the Linfield defence and Paul O’Neill entered a head-on footrace with Chris Johns with what became a 50/50 as the Blues goalkeeper showed bravery to take the ball and take a clattering in the process.

It was a good battle and on the balance of play it was a fair enough result between two strong teams who are in the mix of a very competitive title race.

Full Time: Linfield 1 – 1 Cliftonville

Match Images

1. David Healy : The last ten or fifteen minutes we probably looked a wee bit ragged in our eagerness to try and go and get the winner
2. Manager’s programme notes
3. Jamie Mulgrew programme interview