Linfield 5 Newry City 0

Hopefully the future

IPL, Windsor Park, Saturday 5th April 2008

Team: Mannus, O’Kane, Murphy, Bailie, Ervin, Curran (Kearney 72), Gault (Downey 68), Mulgrew, Stewart, Ferguson (Dickson 64), Thompson

Scorers: Stewart, Ferguson (pen), Thompson 2, Dickson

Attendance: ca. 2000 (26 away fans)

My first game back since December. I've much more to say on pre-match events surrounding a certain Hatchets and Hammers banner in due course, but here's my brief resume of the game:

Good:

-Jamie Mulgrew and Gaulty in CM. Controlled things.
-our second half performance
-I thought the subs were spot-on
-Tommy getting a run-out up front
-our supporters letting the MC know exactly the depth of their feelings with big renditions of HnH and 'If you hate Stephen Nolan' after the 4th goal, including the South Stand, I was filled with with pride
-I thought Loughrey had a good game
-Thompson's too hot to handle

Bad:

-our first half performance
-Spike is done, no mobility, a hindrance
-Curran is no LM
-poor crowd and very muted for much of the game
-the club going against the wishes of their fans to appease those who hate us
-monkey head. he really is done, tried to kick lumps out of Mulgrew and Gault all day but couldn't get near them
-Windsor Roar, presumably the version with one song missing, being played over the tannoy pre-match, hypocritical or what

Thompo's great photos online.

Now for a 2007 repeat performance next Saturday. I just cannot see that Glentoran team beating us.

League table:

POS		PLAYED	WON	DRAWN	LOST	FOR	AGST	POINTS	GD
1	Linfield	27	21	4	2	66	18	67	48
2	Glentoran	27	20	4	3	64	22	64	42