IRISH LEAGUE: Linfield respond with 4-0 win over Ballinamallard United

LINFIELD 4 BALLINAMALLARD UNITED 0
Linfield's Paul Smyth with Ballinamallard's Calum FrempongLinfield's Paul Smyth with Ballinamallard's Calum Frempong
Linfield's Paul Smyth with Ballinamallard's Calum Frempong

Linfield boss David Healy asked his boys for a response - and he got it!

The Blues fell to an embarrassing League Cup defeat at Ballymena in midweek -- a result that angered Healy,

But his team returned to winning ways against Ballinamallard United at Windsor Park today.

Not only did they claim three crucial Danske Premiership points, but they also benefited from table topping Crusaders slipping up at Ballymena.

Andy Waterworth shot the Blues into an early lead before Sammy Clingan, Mark Haughey and Paul Smyth all got in on the scoring act.

With Healy’s team talk still ringing in their early the Blues took the lead in only six minutes.

Niall Quinn threaded a wonderful to Waterworth, who waltzed past Ryan McConnell and goalkeeper James McGrath before planting the ball into the empty net.

And, they almost did it again after a lightning break involving skipper Jamie Mulgrew and Smyth, who picked out the unmarked Sammy Clingan, but McGrath got down to get both hands on the effort.

But Clingan had better luck on the half hour when his 20 yard free kick fizzed home after Jamie Mulgrew was hauled down by Calum Frempong.

The Blues struck again nine minutes before the finish. United’s Niall Owens’s intended back poss to McGrath fell horribly short. Little Smyth was on to it like a flash. He walked around the keeper before slipping the ball into the

Linfield: Carroll Clingan, Haughey, Callacher, Waterworth (Burns 75), M Clarke, Casement (Ward 70), Mulgrew, Quinn, R Clarke (Millar 63), Smyth.

Unused subs: Bright, Carson.

Ballinamallard United: McGrath, McMenamin, Tahney, McGinty, McKenna (Armstrong 45), Lafferty, McConnel, Lecky (McIlwaine 67), Mayse, Frempong, Elliott (Owens 19).

Unused subs: McCluskey, Feeney.

Referee: M Spiteri (Malta).