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Linfield recorded a comfortable win and boosted their goal difference with a five-goal victory over Dungannon Swifts in the Blues’ penultimate pre-split match this afternoon as Finnish striker Eetu Vertainen grabbed the headlines with four goals at Windsor Park.

David Healy’s men took the lead after eleven minutes following a patient start. Ben Hall brought the ball out from the back and up the pitch before finding the feet of Chris McKee on the edge of the box and he slipped a neat pass into strike partner Eetu Vertainen in the box. The on-loan St. Johnstone man cut in onto his right foot and found the bottom corner with a composed finish for his first Linfield goal.

The Blues threatened to add a second in the following minutes. Firstly, Vertainen turned smartly and spotted Fallon darting through a gap in the Dungannon back four, however the forward’s threaded pass was crucially cut out. Soon after, Millar cut in from the right and looked to cut it back to Vertainen in the middle but the ball was nicked off his toe as he lined up a shot.

Dungannon’s first effort came after 23 minutes following a patient build-up in midfield before striker Joe McCready took on a 25 yard strike which flashed wide.

The champions then doubled their lead after 28 minutes when Eetu Vertainen timed his run to perfection to find himself in acres of space in the inside right channel to meet Kirk Millar’s great pass and when everyone expected Vertainen to look to pull the ball back to McKee he instead converted with a precise finish from a tight angle for his second.

It was 3-0 after 34 minutes when Ahmed Salam headed the ball down the flank to Vertainen who turned provider when he got goalside and squared the ball across to Chris McKee who eventually did very well to squeeze the ball into the net beyond a Dungannon defender and goalkeeper.

Half Time: Linfield 3-0 Dungannon Swifts

The Blues could have added a fourth just four minutes after the restart when Ahmed Salam’s deep cross found Kirk Millar at the back post and the winger checked inside past a few men before skewing a left-footed shot wide from a great position.

Dungannon’s best effort came on 54 minutes when winger Rhyss Campbell produced a sweet curling effort from 25 yards which flashed just over the upright.

Finnish forward Eetu Vertainen completed his hat-trick after 68 minutes to put the Blues four goals up. Substitute Jordan Stewart who was only on the pitch slipped the forward through in space and he showed class and composure to chop inside and finish with a cool left footed low shot.

And then just three minutes later the 22 year-old scored his fourth! Linfield broke and found Kirk Millar in space on the right and he whipped in a low cross to the front post where Vertainen would clinically dispatch, directing the ball in at close range with his left foot to round off the scoring in a comfortable Linfield victory.

Linfield’s final match before the split is away to Warrenpoint Town next week with kick-off at the earlier team of 12:30 due to live broadcast by Sky Sports.

Full Time: Linfield 5 – 0 Dungannon Swits

LinfieldFC.com Man of the Match: Eetu Vertainen

Match Images

1. David Healy : I thought our performance was good today
2. Manager’s programme notes
3. Kirk Millar programme article