Chris Johns (GK), Ben Hall, Jimmy Callacher, Sam Roscoe, Chris Shields, Ahmed Salam (Jake Hastie 67’), Jamie Mulgrew (C) Stephen Fallon (Kieron Evans 75’), Kirk Millar, Ethan Devine. Eetu Vertainen (Jordan Stewart 37’)
It was the late, late show once again as for the second time in three weeks, young Linfield forward Ethan Devine popped up with a vital stoppage time winner. Devine - who arrived in January from Knockbreda - broke Warrenpoint hearts in the final pre-split fixture to keep Linfield at the top of the table.
Linfield knew to expect a tough challenge from Warrenpoint as the Milltown club were vocal in their disappointment at the manner of Tuesday’s 5-2 defeat to Coleraine. A response was expected – and received – by manager Barry Gray. However, the Blues still struggled to get going.
The basement side took a surprise lead after 15 minutes but from a Linfield perspective it was too passive. A long throw from O’Sullivan on the right found an attacker who got free of Salam into space before hooking the ball in and Warrenpoint wingback Steven Ball guided a header in off the inside of the post.
The Blues’ slow start continued as Warrenpoint threatened to add a second. A foul was given against Chris Shields right on the edge of the box and it was struck by Jonathan Leddy, who’d already scored against the Blues in a previous draw between the sides this season. The low drive to the ‘keeper’s side was pushed away by Johns who had to throw himself to deny Ball on the follow-up.
Linfield unfortunately lost Finnish striker Eetu Vertainen to a hamstring injury towards the end of the first half. That brought about the introduction of Jordan Stewart and Linfield started to show improvement and more urgency in their play after creativity had been lacking.
As fate would have it, Jordan Stewart would be the man who would draw Linfield level in stoppage time at the end of the first half. Chris Shields hung up a deep free-kick delivery to the back post which was nodded down by Jimmy Callacher and Stewart finished brilliantly to sweep in a first-time shot from inside the box.
Half Time: Warrenpoint Town 1-1 Linfield
Linfield started the second half with much more urgency than they did the first and it brought two massive opportunities. Firstly, Ahmed Salam put in a cross from the right which found Jamie Mulgrew at the back post and he then found Ethan Devine at close range in the middle, but his initial shot was brilliantly blocked on the line by Dan Byrne and the striker’s follow-up effort clipped the crossbar when he tried to generate a lot of power to try and get it past a few players on the line.
Soon after, Salam crossed dangerously again and the ball was headed back into the middle by Kirk Millar to Jamie Mulgrew who generated great contact on a left-foot volley at close range, but Conor Mitchell in the ‘Point goal made a superb reflex save – not just to get hands to it, but to divert the ball around the post.
Jordan Stewart headed over from Kirk Millar’s cross following a neat passage of play and Ben Hall headed wide from a deep corner delivery as Linfield continued to search for a second goal.
Second half substitute Alan O’Sullivan can count himself very unfortunate not to have won it for Warrenpoint. Firstly, when he squeezed in between Chris Johns and Jimmy Callacher in the box, his low effort was well saved by the goalkeeper.
Then, on 84 minutes, a major scare for Linfield who were simply very lucky. Ben Hall misjudged his header back to Chris Johns and O’Sullivan nipped in between the two of them before doing well to lob the ball over Chris Johns but just as he waited for the net to bulge, the ball bounced a yard out and flashed just up over the crossbar. As the commentary team for the live Sky Sports broadcast alluded to, if the tricky pitch had not been so dry and bumpy then the ball would probably have bounced into the net rather than over the bar.
The Blues then showed their character to find a way to win when not at their best – a trait they often display when the chips are down. Jake Hastie whipped in a left-footed corner from the right side and Ethan Devine stormed onto it with a clean header to win it in their second minute of added time with his fourth goal for the club.
David Healy rightly says it’s not how you do it that counts, so he’ll be delighted leaving south Down with three points but it certainly isn’t good for the heart-rate! The Blues are four points ahead of Cliftonville who have a game in hand and Clliftonville are Linfield’s next opponents, at Solitude in the first match of the split in two weeks time.
Full Time: Warrenpoint Town 1 – 2 Linfield
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