January is a busy time of year for football fans, with supporters around the world flocking to the newest online bookies to check out the latest transfer betting odds. It is not all about the incomings and outgoings though, as the action on the pitch also continues to hit the sports news headlines.
On Northern Irish shores, Tuesday evening saw a huge clash towards the head of the Danske Bank Premiership table as Cliftonville welcomed Linfield to Solitude. Separated by just two points heading into the game, Linfield had the opportunity to overhaul their hosts and move a point clear at the top of the table if they picked up all three points – Cliftonville had other ideas.
Doherty Strikes a Decisive Blow
It was Linfield who started the brighter of the two sides. Keen to take the initiative, David Healy’s men were applying the pressure in the opening ten minutes, without really managing to threaten the Cliftonville goal.
Then in the 12th minute – and marginally against the run of play – the hosts struck what would turn out to be the decisive blow. Working the ball nicely down the left-hand side, a pass inside found Ronan Hale who expertly slipped the ball first time into the path of Ronan Doherty arriving in the left of the box. Doherty did the rest, sweeping home into the bottom right corner from just inside the eighteen-yard area.
Cliftonville enjoyed the better of the opportunities in the remainder of the first half – Jonny Addis heading narrowly wide, and Chris Gallagher forcing the keeper into making a save with a decent effort from range. Whilst Linfield struggled to create much in front of goal, they did look mightily unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Joel Cooper was sent tumbling on the edge of the six-yard box. Big appeals from Cooper, but they fell on deaf ears.
The visitors were the better side after the break as they pushed forward in search of an equaliser. However, home keeper Nathan Gartside was up to the task in saving once from Cammy Palmer, and twice from Joel Cooper who also saw an effort deflected narrowly wide.
No way back for the defending champions in the end, as the hosts clung on for what may prove to be a vital three points in this year’s title race.
Tight at the Top
This undoubtedly rates a setback for Linfield in their pursuit of a fifth successive league title, but it is far from a terminal blow, particularly as the club have impressively hauled themselves back into the race following what was – by their lofty standards – a very slow start to the season. A fact not lost on manager David Healy who, when reflecting on those early season woes, stated, “We were probably a mile behind….It wasn’t just one club, it was three, four, five clubs, but we’ve fought back so it’s important now that, with the mentality we have, to try and rebuild some sort of run. It may not be 12 or 13 games because we’re coming into the real nitty-gritty of the season.”
It is however Cliftonville who are sitting pretty at the summit at present, now five points clear of Linfield who are back in third. This is no two-horse race though. Larne are three points back of the leaders in second, but have a vastly superior goal difference and will move into top spot should they win their game in hand. And don’t rule out Crusaders and Coleraine, who are both also within striking distance in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the season.
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