Bet McLean Cup Final: Linfield make it back-to-back wins

A three-goal salvo either side of half-time saw Linfield ease to back-to-back Bet McLean Cup wins as they saw off a plucky Portadown at Windsor Park earlier.

Despite the Ports beginning well, it was David Healy's men who scored twice just before half-time through Ben Hall and a Luke Wilson own goal.

Then when Rhys Annett made it 3-0 before the hour mark, that was the result all but done and dusted. But, credit to the Ports, they battled back and got the goal their desire deserved with Eamon Fyfe's header 15 minutes from time.

However, they just couldn't find further inroads against an experienced Linfield side in these situations

In what was a lively early start from both teams, both Lee Chapman and Eamon Fyfe were denied by Linfield blocks, while at the other end, The Blues’ Matthew Fitzpatrick headed over the bar

Then on 12 minutes, Portadown were denied by another superb block - this time from Linfield's Daniel Finlayson, as Portadown's Ryan Mayse went for goal, after he was played in by Eamon Fyfe.

Just four minutes later, Linfield did have the ball in the net, but their celebrations were short-lived. Matthew Clarke's shot was parried into the path of Matthew Fitzpatrick by Ports goalkeeper Aaron Hogg, but the Blues forward was well offside as the flag went up before he slotted it home.

However, it was Currie’s Championship men who looked the liveliest in the opening quarter of the game and they had another opportunity just before the midway point of the first half.

This time it was Aaron Traynor who found himself in space outside the box and he rifled just over the crossbar of Chris Johns.

That seemed to signal the moment for Linfield to step it up a gear as they gradually took charge of the match.

Fitzpatrick was desperately unlucky not to break the deadlock just before the half hour mark when he got on the end of Finlayson’s header only to see his overhead kick come back off the bar with Hogg beaten.

After Finlayson shot over, Linfield eventually went in font five minutes before the break.

Kirk Millar’s corner from the left wasn’t dealt with and when the ball ricocheted up into the path of Ben Hall, the big defender strained his neck muscles to power a header into the net.

Then just as the opening period entered stoppage time, they doubled that lead.

It was another Millar corner, this time from the right, that led to it, as the unfortunate Luke Wilson could only head into his own net from close range under pressure from Fitzpatrick.

That seemed to knock the stuffing out of the Ports somewhat, and just 11 minutes after the restart, Linfield all but put the result beyond doubt with their third goal.

It was a sweeping move down the left that saw Fitzpatrick roll the ball into the path of the excellent Kyle McClean and he pulled it back to Annett unmarked 10 yards out. With Hogg out of his goal, the youngster had the simplest of tasks to sidefoot home first time as Linfield put one hand on the trophy.

To their credit, Portadown kept battling to get something positive from the tie and it arrived with just over 15 minutes left to play.

The lively Ryan Mayse broke free down the left flank and dinked his cross to the back post where Eamon Fyfe had tucked in beat his man and head past a helpless Chris Johns.

That led to some uncharacteristically nervous moments from Linfield as the Ports understandably attempted to throw the kitchen sink at them in the final exchanges.

However, David Healy's side were able to find their comfort zone again to see the game out and make it back-to-back Bet McClean Cup trophies.

With an Irish Cup Semi-Final against Glentoran still to come and the side very much in the title hunt as they chase down Larne, it might be the first of a number of pieces of silverware for the club this season.

MATCH STATS

Linfield: Johns, Finlayson, Hall, Clarke, Mulgrew (C), Archer. McClean, Millar (McBrien 90), Cooper (Newberry 80), Fitzpatrick (Doherty 90), Annett (McKee 75)

Subs not used: Walsh, McCullough, Graham

Portadown: Hogg, Chapman, Traynor, D Wilson, L Wilson, Thompson (C), Russell (McElroy 61), Mayse, McCawl (Montgomery 82), Barr (Kane 61), Fyfe (Coyle 86)

Subs not used: Buchanan, Redman, Diau

Referee: Tony Clarke

Attendance: 9,179