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Linfield once again returned to the top of the table tonight with a 2-1 victory away to Carrick Rangers in a rearranged match which was originally meant to be played last Friday evening prior to postponement.

David Healy’s men got off to a great start, taking the lead after three minutes. Credit must go to the referee who played a great advantage when Christy Manzinga got clattered whilst flicking the ball on to Jake Hastie. The left winger on loan from Rangers had space to attack on the left before his low cross was turned in by Carrick’s Thomas Scully, in off the inside of the post for an own goal on three minutes.

The lead was almost doubled on 17 minutes with a neat passage of play. Kirk Millar clipped a beautifully flighted pass out wide right to Conor Pepper who played a one-two with Chris McKee inside the box before teeing up Kyle McClean whose sweetly-struck left-footed strike was well saved by the diving Aaron Hogg and only for a superb goal-saving block by brave Carrick defender Mark Surgenor, Chris McKee would have converted the rebound from close range.

McKee did find the net on 36 minutes to double Linfield’s lead, an elusive second goal for the Blues which they’ve found hard to find in recent weeks with a number of 1-0 wins. It was a well-worked corner with Jake Hastie collecting the ball short before bursting past his man and putting in a low cross again which was eventually flicked in at close range by the 19 year-old in his native Carrickfergus for his third Linfield goal since arriving in January from Rangers and his second in as many matches.

The Blues were unlucky not to add more goals before the break in a half where David Walsh had nothing to do in the Linfield goal. Christy Manzinga found the net with a great header from Conor Pepper’s cross at 2-0 but it was ruled out for offside. When he was onside minutes later, he was disappointed to head over at close range a great cross by Kirk Millar. Manzinga also found space on the right and put in a dangerous low cross which just wouldn’t fall for a Linfield player and Carrick scrambled it clear.

Linfield had a strong penalty appeal turned down in added time in the first half when Callacher’s threaded pass was flicked on by Manzinga for the surging Conor Pepper whose pace had got him in goal side of Carrick Ben Tilney but when Pepper went down in the box the referee waved play on.

Half Time: Carrick Rangers 0-2 Linfield

The Blues created a great chance three minutes into the second half. Kirk Millar hooked a ball over the top for Christy Manzinga to get in on goal behind a high defensive line but his shot inside the box was well saved by the legs of Carrick goalkeeper Aaron Hogg.

Stuart King’s Amber Army almost got one back with their first effort on goal midway through the second half. A free-kick was clipped into a crowded box by Tom Scully and Blues ‘keeper David Walsh came but didn’t get there as he was beaten to it by Carrick’s Steven Gordon whose header was finding the corner only for a great goalline clearance by the instinctive, backtracking Chris Shields. This gave Carrick some belief, nevertheless.

The hosts did then pull one back a few minutes later. Attacker Jordan Gibson cut in from the right side and he had acres of space to line up a shot which found the corner via the inside of the post.

The Blues could have restored their two-goal advantage when Mulgrew sent Kirk Millar through on goal, but the offside Manzinga latched onto it ahead of Millar despite shouts not to from his teammates and a golden opportunity was squandered.

Suddenly from being so comfortable for over an hour of the match, Carrick Rangers’ growth in belief cumulated to a nervy finish to the match. The inevitable one big chance that always seems to fall for a team chasing a match late on fell Carrick’s way on 85 minutes but they were unable to take it. A long ball dropped kindly for striker Emmett McGuckin who volleyed narrowly wide, into the side netting from 18 yards. Carrick pressed into six additional minutes but Linfield managed the closing stages to hold on for the win.

Full Time: Carrick Rangers 1 – 2 Linfield

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1. David Healy : Thought we started the game well