BLUES SEE OFF VILLAGERS CHALLENGE
Linfield maintained their lead at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership with victory over Loughgall at Lakeview Park.
A bright opening to the game saw the Villagers produce the best chances with Oran Brogan testing Chris Johns from distance following a period of possession while Benji Magee came closest for the home side with an effort just wide of the far post around the half-hour mark.
But it fell to the visitors to craft the clearest opportunity ten minutes from the break when Daniel Finlayson sent over a cross that Matthew Clarke rose highest to meet with a header at the back post only to send the ball against the crossbar which the home defence eventually cleared.
However the deadlock was broken in Linfield's favour within moments of the restart after a Kirk Millar free-kick sent over from the right was turned into his own net by home defender Tiernan Kelly.
Then, around ten minutes after that, Millar got on the scoresheet himself with a superbly executed right-foot volley from the edge of the area beyond the reach of Berraat Turker.
The Villagers hit back within three minutes. Pablo Andrade did well to take on the Linfield midfielder before squaring the ball into Magee's path who duly fired it past Johns from just inside the box, albeit aided by a deflection.
That completed the scoring, although Linfield did have a shout for a later goal dismissed after a Matthew Fitzpatrick finish was kept out by some frantic defending amid claims the ball had crossed the line.
Loughgall: Turker, Rea, Murdock, Brogan, Kelly, Andrade, Ferris, Hoey, Patton, Magee, Loughran subs Devine, Carson, Teggart, Norton, Gibson, Carroll, Duke
Linfield: Johns, Finlayson, East, Millar, McClean, Hall, Clarke, Mulgrew, Fitzpatrick, Annett, Archer subs Walsh, McBrien, McKee, McGee, McKay, Doherty, Graham
Substitution 
Substitution 
