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Linfield’s frustrations in matches against their top six counterparts continued this evening as the Blues conceded a last-minute equaliser to Glentoran in the derby at a drizzly Windsor Park.

The Blues started the game brightly in the opening ten minutes. They almost scored within the first minute with an excellent move consisting of one-touch play, resulting in Joel Cooper finding space to slot the ball into Kirk Millar in the right channel. Millar then supplied a low cross into the middle which found Chris McKee whose flicked effort was saved by the Glentoran ‘keeper. Soon after, a Linfield corner caused trouble in the Glentoran box, though the visitors eventually cleared the danger.

Glentoran then had a good spell of possession midway through the first half, though they created little at the end of it. Hrvoje Plum fired a free-kick over from distance, and later Niall McGinn wasted the time and space he had to shoot as he fired over from 20 yards.

The game went into a lull before a burst of life towards the end of the half, with Linfield going close twice in quick succession. Firstly, a neat move in midfield provided a platform for Stephen Fallon to burst through before his curling shot from the edge of the box was well saved.

A minute later, a deep cross which Chris McKee contested, fell kindly at the feet of Kirk Millar at the back post, however his low goalbound strike was excellently blocked by James Singleton who threw his body on the line.

The breakthrough then arrived for Linfield five minutes before the break. It was a case of third time lucky as the goal came from the corner that was awarded from Millar’s blocked effort. Matthew Clarke whipped in the corner and it was met by Sam Roscoe who got across the near post to power home a header for his fourth goal of the season.

Half Time: Linfield 1 – 0 Glentoran

A lively start to the second half saw Linfield get two set-pieces in dangerous areas – one of which was well defended, and the other was headed by Jimmy Callacher but saved by the ‘keeper. Glentoran also threatened when Rhys Marshall whipped an inviting cross right across the face of goal, and Junior was unable to get a telling touch.

Half-chances at both ends would follow, though neither team was playing their best football and at times it became a little scrappy. Linfield then tried to see out their one-goal lead, and got pushed further and further back before they suffered a suckerpunch.

The late twist in the tale came bang on 90 minutes when Glentoran salvaged a point as Bobby Burns scored against Linfield for the fourth time this season. A long punt in from Terry Devlin was headed down by Rory Donnelly for Bobby Burns to run in and convert at close range.

And the Glens probably should have nicked all three points right at the death, beyond the four additional minutes as they threw everybody forward before Rhys Marshall whipped in a cross which Terry Devlin should have converted, but he headed wide from close range.

This result means League leaders Larne need just one point from their remaining three matches to clinch the title. In the race for second and automatic European qualification, Linfield are three points ahead of Cliftonville, four ahead of Crusaders and five ahead of Glentoran.

Full Time: Linfield 1 – 1 Glentoran

Attendance - 4671

LinfieldFC.com Man of the Match: Sam Roscoe

Match Images

1. David Healy discusses tonight’s Premiership game
2. Manager’s programme notes
3. Jamie Mulgrew programme article