Chris Johns (GK), Daniel Finlayson, Jimmy Callacher, Sam Roscoe, Matthew Clarke, Jamie Mulgrew © (Kyle McClean 90’), Cameron Palmer (Chris Shields 62’), Joel Cooper (Kirk Millar 33’), Andrew Clarke, Robbie McDaid (Ethan Devine 90’), Chris McKee (Eetu Vertainen 62’)
Rory Brown (GK), Conor Kerr, Andrew Doyle (Mark Haughey 55'), Sean Ward, Daniel Wallace, Aaron Prendergast (Conor McClsokey 70'), Matthew Snoddy, Isaac Baird, Michael Glynn, Peter Campbell, Joshua Doyle (Eoin Bradley 70')
For the second time within the space of a month, a comeback was required from a spirited Linfield to take all three points against Glenavon at Windsor Park.
Robbie McDaid’s late goal proved to be the winner, but if the Blues had brought their shooting boots it would have been a less anxious experience for the Linfield supporters.
The Blues passed up four or five golden opportunities from great areas, with the first coming after fourteen minutes. Jamie Mulgrew threaded a neat pass to Matthew Clarke running into space in the box and he pulled the ball across goal to Robbie McDaid who looked sure to score, yet the effort from a couple of yards out was excellently saved by visiting goalkeeper, Rory Brown. Nonetheless, McDaid will feel he should have buried it.
The majority of the chances came in the second half. The first half was stop-start, typified by a five-minute delay for the groundstaff to come on to the playing surface and solve an issue within the penalty area at the Kop end of the ground.
The only time Linfield ‘keeper Chris Johns was troubled in the first half was early on when a shot from Michael Glynn dipped and proved awkward as Johns gathered at the second attempt following an initial parry.
Joel Cooper went close for the Blues after nineteen minutes when he cut inside from the right before his strike from a central area 20 yards out whistled just over the crossbar. Unfortunately, his afternoon only lasted 33 minutes when he picked up a knock from an innocuous challenge by Glenavon prospect Isaac Baird. Cooper attempted to play on for a couple of minutes but the injury ended his participation, and he was replaced by Kirk Millar who was returning from a brief injury.
Millar almost broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when he shimmied past the full-back to cut in on his weaker left foot and his curling effort had the goalkeeper beaten, but Glenavon were rescued by central defender Andrew Doyle who headed off the line.
Half Time: Linfield 0 – 0 Glenavon
The second half was more exciting for the spectators. David Healy’s men were unlucky twice in the first five minutes of the half. Firstly, Cammy Palmer was teed up on the edge of the box, on the left side when he cut across the ball with a fierce strike which whistled agonisingly past the far top corner.
Chris McKee was also slipped inside the box from a pinpoint Jamie Mulgrew pass threaded through the Glenavon backline, but defender Andrew Doyle got in a vital last-ditch block to divert Chris McKee’s goal-bound shot wide of the target.
It was remarkable that the Blues then passed up a glorious opportunity on 52 minutes when Kirk Millar’s inswinging corner was hooked on by Daniel Finlayson for Sam Roscoe who was about a yard out at the back post area and his attempt to scramble the ball over the line was somehow hooked off the line.
Typically, Glenavon then took the lead against the run of play. Linfield did not help themselves by giving the ball away cheaply in midfield but nothing should be taken away from Lurgan Blues midfielder Michael Glynn who hammered in a sweet driven shot from 25 yards after pouncing upon the ball with intent.
Linfield were denied by the woodwork five minutes later as they searched for a leveller. Kirk Millar delivered a free-kick which he whipped to the back post area and Jimmy Callacher made a firm connection, only to see his header strike the crossbar.
David Healy’s men did then get back on level terms six minutes after that and in ironically similar fashion to the manner they’d threatened in just prior. This time Kirk Millar’s free-kick to the back post area was knocked back across goal by Callacher for Daniel Finlayson to slot in his first Linfield goal from inside the penalty box.
Gary Hamilton’s side almost retook the lead shortly after when Linfield failed to deal with a ball into the box and the in-form Michael Glynn – who also scored for Glenavon in their win against Glentoran during the week – somehow managed to prod the ball past Chris Johns from close range, but Jimmy Callacher showed defensive instincts to cover and clear the ball off the goalline.
Several clear-cut chances followed for Linfield who finished the last twenty minutes playing with purpose and on the front foot. The lively and once again impressive Andrew Clarke had two good opportunities on separate occasions, but he fired over and straight at the goalkeeper.
Eetu Vertainen also will have been disappointed not to have put the Blues ahead on 75 minutes. Robbie McDaid did brilliantly from out wide left to get past his man and he played in a cross to the Finnish forward who put the ball wide of the post from a few yards out.
Thankfully for Linfield, they wouldn’t rue missed opportunities as Robbie McDaid popped up with a crucial winning goal five minutes from time. The forward netted his first Windsor Park goal in Linfield colours as Eetu Vertainen flicked on Chris Johns’ long kick into McDaid’s path, and he used the decoy run of Matthew Clarke to create room for a 20 yard strike which skidded along the turf before nestling in the bottom left corner.
A deserved win for Linfield but David Healy – given the high standards he sets – will want his team to make life a little bit easier for themselves by finding that ‘ruthless edge’ that he often refers to, in front of goal.
Full Time: Linfield 2 – 1 Glenavon
LinfieldFC.com Man of the Match: Robbie McDaid
Match Images
