Linfield go top of the league
Linfield stormed to the top of the Carling Premiership with a convincing 3-1 victory over Coleraine at the Showgrounds.
Tuesday, 09 February 2010
Linfield 3 - 1 Coleraine
David Jeffrey's men were without the injured Jamie Tomelty and suspended Michael Carvill but it made little difference as they survived a late scare to comfortably claim maximum points.
Linfield were first to threaten after four minutes when Curtis Allen lifted the ball cleverly over Marc Mukendi but shot past the far post.
On eight minutes Allen curled an effort towards goal but Howard Beverland made an important headed clearance.
The Blues continued to ask the questions and on the quarter hour mark Allen went close with a free-kick after Beverland had fouled Peter Thompson.
A slip by Kyle McVey 60 seconds later allowed Thompson a sight at goal but Beverland saved the day with a terrific block.
Dangerous Thompson was at the centre of most of the action and he should have done better on 18 minutes but his header from Damien Curran's cross was easily saved by Davy O'Hare.
It was to turn out to be a disappointing night for the veteran 'keeper who made his 500th appearance for the Bannsiders and was awarded the captaincy to mark the occasion.
Coleraine's first real threat came on 21 minutes when Tommy McCallion rolled the ball into the path of Rory Patterson who blasted narrowly over the crossbar from the edge of the area.
The visitors almost broke the deadlock three minutes before the break when Mukendi fouled Thompson just outside the area.
Robert Garrett beat the wall with a well struck free-kick which rebounded off the post and was eventually cleared to safety.
Linfield started the second half the way they finished the first and Allen headed a Garrett cross just wide off the mark on 48 minutes.
Thompson and Garrett both tried their luck but the dominant Blues finally got the goal they deserved on 63 minutes.
Steven Douglas rattled the crossbar from long range and Philip Lowry was on hand to smash home the rebound.
Alan Blayney remained a virtual spectator and Billy Joe Burns almost added a second on 82 minutes when he broke into the penalty box before unleashing a shot which was well tipped over by O'Hare for a corner.
Coleraine rarely threatened but against the run of play they drew level with seven minutes remaining.
Gareth Harkin drove at the heart of the defence before slipping a pass to Stephen Dooley who cooly slotted the ball home.
But within two minutes the Blues had regained their lead when the home defence failed to clear their lines and Jamie Mulgrew stepped up to fire a left foot drive past the despairing dive of O'Hare.
It was left to 'Pistol Pete' Thompson to put the icing on the cake in injury time when he headed into an empty net after another Garrett free-kick had crashed back off the woodwork.
Coleraine: O'Hare, Beverland, Hegarty (Tommons 72), McVey, Boyce (Gibson 64), Patterson, McCallion (Lowry 72), Carson, Mukendi, Harkin, Dooley. (Substitutes not used - Tolan, Canning).
Linfield: Blayney, Douglas, Murphy, Curran, Lowry, Thompson, Burns, Allen, Garrett, Mulgrew, Gallagher. (Substitutes not used: Gault, Bailie, O'Kane, Ervin, McAllister).
Referee: Brian Turkington (Belfast)
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