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Linfield returned to winning ways and, subsequently, the top of the league with a crucial win over Larne at Windsor Park this evening. The Blues got vengeance over the Inver men who had emerged victorious in an Irish Cup meeting between the two sides in Larne just four days ago.

The first half was very tightly contested as expected between two good teams but the Blues led at the break thanks to Stephen Fallon’s goal late in the half. The midfielder hounded Larne winger Ben Doherty who was backtracking towards his own goal with the ball. Fallon got his just rewards for his persistence as he nicked the ball to charge through on goal and the finish was artistically and gracefully superb as he chipped the ball over Devlin and after what felt like an age, the ball came down and nestled in the net at the Kop End.

That was the only clear-cut chance of the first half. Christy Manzinga did threaten twice however, both occasions coming from his desire to chase a ball into the channel. In the second minute he bullied Larne’s Fuad Sule off the ball but once reached the box he unfortunately slipped while readying to pull the trigger. A while later he burst past Kofi Balmer after nicking the ball but when through on goal, play was pulled up for a foul.

Larne’s David McDaid also had two glimpses of goal on two separate occasions from in around the edge of the box but both times he was denied by Chris Johns who gathered fairly comfortably.

Half Time: Linfield 1-0 Larne

Larne got themselves back on level terms 20 minutes into the second half. Just two minutes after coming on as a substitute, Ronan Hale made an instant impact. Andy Scott’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Sam Roscoe, then Lee Lynch’s follow-up shot from close range was well saved by Chris Johns despite a wicked deflection, before Ronan Hale converted the rebound from close range.

For the following five minutes Larne’s tails were up and they were on top, putting real pressure on with some slick passing, particularly down their right side. Lee Bonis headed over from close range when he met Lee Lynch’s cross. The game swung back Linfield’s way when David Healy introduced Chris Shields off the bench on 69 minutes as the midfielder returned from an injury picked up at Dungannon on New Year’s Day.

Shields’ calmness and class helped Linfield settle again and push on which was the platform for the Blues to retake the lead four minutes later with what proved to be the winning goal. A corner from the right from on-loan Rangers winger Jake Hastie evaded several players in the middle, seemingly taking a slight nick on its way through to the back post area where Christy Manzinga was waiting to pounce. It was a nice finish to beat Devlin with a strike down into the ground for the Frenchman’s 20th goal of the season.

Linfield showed their experience to manage the game superbly. It could have been settled on 86 minutes when Jamie Mulgrew darted past a defender in the box before squaring a dream of a cross by the face of goal, but there was no-one in blue on hand to take advantage. Still, the Blues held on comfortably enough for a crucial win after three games without one. David Healy's men really dug in and took their chances when they came along. Although this was a meeting of two good footballing sides, tonight was more of a battle.

The Blues now lead the league by goal difference over Glentoran who happen to be Linfield’s next opponent on Friday evening at The Oval.

Full Time: Linfield 2 – 1 Larne

LinfieldFC.com Man of the Match: Stephen Fallon

Match Images

1. David Healy : Crucial result
2. Manager’s programme notes
3. Ben Hall programme article