Chris Johns (GK), Jack Scott, Michael Newberry, Ben Hall, Matthew Clarke, Kirk Millar (Ryan McKay 76’), Chris Shields, Kyle McClean, Joel Cooper (Jamie Mulgrew 90’), Chris McKee (John Robertson 68’), Matthew Fitzpatrick (Darragh McBrien 76’)
Rory Brown (GK), Matthew Snoddy (Aaron Rogers 75’), Calum Birney, Danny Wallace ©, Isaac Baird, Conor McCloskey (Jack Malone 45’), Robert Garrett (Conor Kerr 74’), Tiarnan Mulvenna (Jamie Doran 76’), Peter Campbell (Cohen Henderson 75’), Stephen Teggart, Aaron Prendergast
Linfield made it two wins from two matches as they defeated Glenavon in an entertaining Sports Direct Premiership contest at Windsor Park this evening.
The Blues were nearly ahead within as little as 19 seconds into the contest when Jack Scott got up the right flank to deliver a deep cross which Glenavon ‘keeper Brown thought was drifting over his net, only for it to come back off his crossbar. The ball was then retrieved by Kirk Millar who teed up Matthew Clarke whose 20-yard drive was well watched and saved by the ‘keeper.
It then took an exceptional goal-saving challenge from Chris Shields to prevent Glenavon going ahead. In many ways he atoned for his own error after putting Michael Newberry in a spot of bother with a risky pass. Glenavon winger Peter Campbell had pounced and looked in for a certain goal, only for Shields to come back with a vital sliding challenge that was timed to perfection.
Linfield’s attacking wing-back Jack Scott then threatened twice within a minute. Firstly, he got his head on Kirk Millar’s cross to the back post, and although his header had the ‘keeper beaten, Glenavon defender Birney was instinctively backtracking to hook the ball off the line. Soon after, Scott had the ball in the net, only to be adjudged offside.
The breakthrough then arrived on 16 minutes as Linfield took the lead. The ball broke to Matthew Clarke inside the box and his lobbed cross caused the goalkeeper all sorts of problems before it was retrieved at the back post by Jack Scott who pulled the ball back to Chris McKee to fire home from a couple of yards out.
However, the Lurgan Blues were back on level terms just a minute later and it came courtesy of an excellent goal as Stephen Teggart had time and space to curl in a beauty from 20 yards. He picked out the top corner after a cross wasn’t fully cleared by Linfield.
Two minutes after Glenavon’s leveller, the Blues were agonisingly close to retaking the lead in a move that was remarkably similar to Kirk Millar’s goal in Dungannon three days prior. Again, Cooper found Millar in space to his left and Millar’s curling effort had the ‘keeper beaten, only to see the ball come back off the inside of the post.
Joel Cooper also went close during the first half when he was found inside the box following quick thinking at a corner and his low shot forced the goalkeeper into a decent save at his near post.
Half Time: Linfield 1 – 1 Glenavon
An excellent save from Chris Johns early in the second half prevented Glenavon from going in front. It came from a free-kick after Peter Campbell was fouled in a very central position, right on the edge of Linfield’s box. Campbell himself stepped up and hit the free-kick with conviction and Johns sprung down to his right to make an excellent diving stop.
Then, a Goal of the Season contender from Joel Cooper restored Linfield’s lead on 52 minutes. The classy winger beat three men in total – with a nutmeg included – before bursting from the right wing into the box and hammering the ball into the top corner to continue his great start to the season.
Remarkably, Glenavon midfielder Stephen Teggart almost scored another excellent goal within a minute of Linfield taking the lead, in what would have been a repeat of the first half proceedings. This time, he lobbed Chris Johns with what was a curling effort from just outside the box, on the right side and he was unfortunate to see his effort come crashing back off the crossbar.
The Blues then went up the gears and were playing with an intensity that Glenavon struggled to come to terms with. They extended their lead to 3-1 on 61 minutes when Kyle McClean was tripped inside the box by Tiarnan Mulvenna following a Linfield counter-attack and the referee subsequently pointed to the spot. Although Chris Shields’ penalty was well saved initially, there was nothing Rory Brown could do as the midfielder followed up to tuck in the rebound.
And then just four minutes later the Blues had a second penalty. It came about when Chris McKee chased down a through ball into the Glenavon box and his pace saw him nip in ahead of the ‘keeper who brought him down. This time, Shields converted at the first time of asking as he sent Brown the opposite direction to make it 4-1.
A driver of high standards, David Healy might be a little frustrated that his team didn’t add more goals after the fourth went in, as opportunities were certainly plentiful.
Amidst a series of Linfield chances, there was to be a consolation goal for Glenavon who pulled it back to 4-2 on 74 minutes as Calum Birney rose to head in Peter Campbell’s corner delivery.
Late opportunities fell the way of Kyle McClean and John Robertson who both drew good saves from the leg of the goalkeeper with low driven strikes from inside the box, There was also two excellent defensive interceptions from Glenavon defender Danny Wallace to cut out two crosses which likely would have resulted in Linfield goals otherwise.
Next up for the Blues is a trip to face Ballymena United this coming Friday, a game in which they can welcome Daniel Finlayson back from suspension as David Healy's men aim to maintain their positive start to the League campaign.
Full Time: Linfield 4– 2 Glenavon
Attendance - 2702
LinfieldFC.com Man of the Match: Joel Cooper
Match Images
