RT� Sport: Linfield 3-1 Derry City (original) (raw)

Linfield continued to hold sway over Derry City in the Setanta Cup following this victory in Group B at Windsor Park.

And while the Blues certainly deserved to win the tie, the game will be remembered for a few bad tempered incidents not to mention an appalling penalty decision near the end which effectively ended this match as a contest.

That said, Stephen Kenny's side can have no complaints with the defeat, the Candy Stripes leaving it until very late in the second half to make any impression on what was a stubborn Linfield defence.

Indeed, the Blues always looked much sharper and the tactics deployed by team boss, David Jeffrey, worked to a tee with both Derry front men, Conor Sammon and Kevin McHugh, failing to make any impact with Linfield clearly on top in the centre of the park.

The Blues deservedly broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute from what proved a somewhat fortuitous strike.

Following a throw-in on the right, Stephen Douglas delivered the ball into the penalty spot and while Thomas Stewart got a head to it, the ball taking a deflection off the leg of Clive Delaney, an incident which totally wrong-footed debutant keeper, Gerard Doherty.

But Linfield did double their lead in the 40th minute and there was nothing fortunate about that strike. Mark Dickson drove the ball low across the six yards area where the lively Peter Thompson slid in to divert the ball home and Derry were in trouble.

As the game moved into the added time at the end of the first half, both Derry's Clive Delaney and Linfield substitute, William Murphy, appeared to be involved in an altercation following a corner, but referee, Dave McKeon refused to take any action having consulted with his assistants.

Linfield roamed forward regularly during the early stages of the second half with Jamie Mulgrew driving a powerfull free-kick straight at Doherty and the Derry keeper pulled off a superb save in the 54th minute when Dickson and Stewart combined, the latter bringing the best out of the Derry man from 18 yards.

Derry eventually got back into the game in the 78th minute when Eddie McCallion found Ruaidhri Higgins and his low ball into the penalty area saw Ciaran Martyn slide in to guide the ball home to reduce the deficit.

Indeed the same player had an opportunity to level matters within two minutes but he failed to control the ball on the edge of the penalty area.

But the victory was Linfield's with five minutes remaining when the Dublin official made what can only be described as an appalling decision when awarding a highly controversial penalty.

Stewart attempted to make his way into the penalty area flanked by two Derry defenders and when the Linfield player dropped down to earth, Mr McKeon, amazingly pointed to the spot.

Up stepped Glen Ferguson to give Linfield a 3-1 lead and a vital victory in their Setanta Sports Cup campaign.

Linfield: Mannus; McCann, Lindsay, Gault, McCann; Downey (Murphy, 39 mins.), Kearney (Ferguson, 56), Mulgrew (Ervin, 79 mins.); Dickson, Thompson, Stewart.

Derry City: Doherty; McCallion, Delaney (Molloy, 64), Hutton, Gray; McGinn, Martyn, Higgins, Morrison (McGlynn, 64); Sammon (McCourt, 46 mins.), McHugh.

Referee: Dave McKeon (Dublin).