Coagh hold their heads up but the Blues were just to strong in the end

Linfield scorers: Lowry 26, Thompson 28, 68, 74

LINFIELD are through to the semi finals of the JJB Sports Irish Cup but were made to work hard by a well organised and hard working Coagh United side.

Peter Thompson’s hat trick made it 35 goals in 32 Irish Cup games for the Linfield striker after Philip Lowry’s 26th minute header had put the holders in the lead before half time but unknown to a lot of the Coagh supporters two of the Coagh players had received head injuries before the goals and this may have led to them losing concentration especially from Linfield first set piece which saw Philip Lowry score an easy first goal.

Coagh’s Jason Gillespie received four stitches to a head wound from the Linfield Medic at halftime while team captain David Calderwood received staples to the head.

Coagh United would like to put on record their thanks to the Linfield Medical Staff for looking after their players. Before these injuries, Coagh lost the services of Aaron Campbell after the ball blasted the side of his head and after he was sick on the Windsor Park surface the Coagh centre forward had to be replaced by Clarke.

Coagh looked great and surprised everyone with their attacking spirit, Aaron Campbell fluffed a half chance early on while a thirty five yard drive from Dallas just went inches wide. Glenn Clarke came off the bench for Campbell and immediately got behind Murphy but Blayney came out of goal quickly to clear.

David Jeffrey made just two changes to the team that started against Cliftonville at Solitude last Saturday. Billy Joe Burns and Daryl Fordyce came in to replace Michael Carvill and Mark McAllister respectively. On 26 minutes, Coagh’s resistance was broken as Linfield took the lead.

Jamie Mulgrew swung over a corner from the left and Philip Lowry nipped in at the near post to nod the ball home beyond Johnny Yorke in the Coagh United goal. It was Lowry’s 13th goal of a decent season for the Linfield midfielder. Two minutes later, it was two. Daryl Fordyce’s good effort from

25 yards was seen late by the Coagh keeper but he did well to parry the shot but only to the feet of Peter Thompson who was on hand to slot the ball home from close range. Coagh regrouped and continued to take the game to their superiors but job done the score remained Linfield 2 - 0 Coagh United at half time.

The second started with Damien Curran delivering a good ball into the box. His cross was met by a fine Philip Lowry volley but fortunately for the Co. Tyrone visitors Thornton was on hand to block the shot before the ball was eventually cleared to safety. Billy Joe Burns almost made it 3-0 on 61 minutes but his shot was saved by Johnny Yorke. David Jeffrey’s side eventually got their third on 68 minutes. Daryl Fordyce and substitute Stephen Douglas conspired on the right hand side and Douglas’ eventual ball into the box was met by Peter Thompson who slotted home from 6 yards.

Peter Thompson got his hat trick on 74 minutes. Jamie Mulgrew found Thompson inside the box with a fine through pass and the Linfield striker controlled his shot brilliantly, firing into the corner of the net. Coagh continued to push and missed two great chances near the end. On 86 minutes the unlucky Glen Clarke pulled his shot wide after finding himself in a great position inside the box.

Four minutes later, the visitors had another chance to pull a goal back, this time, following an Albert Watson slip; Colin Donaldson shot wide after going one on one with Alan Blayney.

This was a proud day for Coagh, their supporters and sponsors. Coagh United would like to thank all who travelled to support us on the day, ‘you did our club proud’. Thanks also to our Main Sponsor Alan Reid, of Reid Engineering, our away team sponsor Vion Cookstown and to Embroider-us for team warm up tops proudly worn and also Intersport Cookstown who supplied the Coagh Committee Coats. To everyone who made Coagh United’s first Windsor Park experience a day to remember we thank you all. This week see Coagh league challenge continue with a home match against neighbours Moyola Park. Moyola have being going well of late and come to Coagh on the back of a 5-0 win over the PSNI. Kick off at Hagan Park is 3pm.

Linfield Team - Blayney, Ervin (Douglas 62), BJ Burns, Murphy, Watson, Curran, Lowry, Mulgrew (Browne 75), Gault (Garrett 69), Thompson, Fordyce Subs not used :Dougan, Casement

Coagh United Team - Yorke, McGeown, Thornton, Calderwood, Ferguson, Glasgow, Campbell (Clarke 15), Donaldson, Gillespie (Black 85), Dallas, Scott (Beckett 60) Coagh United Subs not used Noble, McKenzie