Chris Johns (GK), Ben Hall, Jimmy Callacher, Chris Shields, Ahmed Salam (Matthew Clarke 86’), Stephen Fallon, Kyle McClean (Sam Roscoe 88’), Jamie Mulgrew © (Michael Newberry 80’) Niall Quinn, Chris McKee (Ethan Devine 80’), Christy Manzinga
Sean O'Neill (GK), Andy McGrory, Ross Redman, Caolan Loughran, Sean Graham, Steven McCullough, Leroy Millar (C), Kym Nelson, Brendan Barr, Ryan Waide, Kenny Kane
Linfield showed spirit on the road tonight when they battled through adversity with ten men to record an important 2-0 win over Ballymena United at Ballymena Showgrounds.
David Jeffrey’s men went into the match unbeaten in their last eleven home matches and boosted by an impressive win over Larne in the Irish Cup at the weekend. Despite playing 120 minutes in that Larne match, Ballymena were happy to participate in a high tempo start in the match against Linfield, although there were no real chances in the opening stages.
United skipper Leroy Millar was the first to have an effort on target and it was a decent effort. A corner dropped invitingly for a bicycle kick which was saved by Johns centrally from around ten yards out. Christy Manzinga curled wide from 25 yards up the other end and Chris Shields headed wide from Niall Quinn’s free-kick delivery.
Christy Manzinga then did well to create a chance for Linfield. It started from good work by the industrious Ahmed Salam, winning the ball in his own half and finding Manzinga on halfway. The forward beat Loughran down the left and whipped in a cross which Stephen Fallon volleyed over at the near post.
The breakthrough in the match arrived on 34 minutes. Kyle McClean – whose deliveries were dangerous all night – whipped in a curling free-kick into the box and it was turned in for an own goal by Ballymena United’s Steven McCullough.
Three minutes later it was almost 2-0 as Christy Manzinga turned smartly to go one-on-one with Sean O’Neil in the box but the United shotstopper came out on top with a smart save down to his right.
To cap an eventful five minute spell, Linfield’s top scorer Manzinga was sent off two minutes later. The forward challenged Caolan Loughran in the air and there was a little argy bargy afterwards, the sort of thing you’d see across all levels of the game every week. Loughran then hit the deck and, after the referee initially playing on, play was halted and a red card brandished to Manzinga. It appeared that the referee didn’t see anything in it and therefore must have been advised by his linesman, and the decision came as a visible shock to Manzinga and his teammates.
Despite that, Linfield still finished the remaining five minutes of the half strongly with a series of corners – one of which found the head of Ben Hall whose goalward header was clawed away by O’Neil.
Half Time: Ballymena United 0-1 Linfield
Sometimes teams ‘park the bus’ when they go down to ten men but that wasn’t the case with Linfield who stuck to their guns and showed intent. The shape remained the same; three at the back, Salam and Quinn as wing-backs, Mulgrew, McClean and Fallon in the middle, and Chris McKee was now a lone striker.
The Blues won their battles and that made for a comfortable enough evening for the returning Chris Johns. At the other end, more Kyle McClean corners brought a threat and he twice found Jimmy Callacher. Firstly, the defender’s header was blocked, and the second time he brought the ball down with his chest but an opponent pounced before he could unleash a half-volley.
A decisive moment came on 73 minutes when Linfield were awarded a penalty. Stalwart captain Jamie Mulgrew typically drove from deep and into the box where he was probably looking to win a corner, but after the ball hit the heel of an opponent he pounced goalside with the ball and the defender caught him before behind. It was great play by Mulgrew and a cool penalty conversion from Chris Shields for his sixth goal of the season, sending the ‘keeper the wrong way as the ball nestled in the bottom right corner.
Linfield kept the ball well when they had it, and won corners when they could, and United never really looked like coming back into it. Every Linfield player fought for the cause, including the subs and that mentality will be needed from now until the end of the season.
The Blues remain top, one point ahead of Cliftonville and three ahead of Glentoran. Next up is Crusaders on Friday night at Windsor Park. With eight games to go they’re all crucial and David Healy will want a big and vocal Linfield support.
Full Time: Ballymena United 0 – 2 Linfield
Match Images
