Waterworth double sinks Swifts to send Linfield top of the table

Linfield returned to the top of the Danske Bank Premiership table with an Andy Waterworth-inspired 2-1 win over Dungannon Swifts at Windsor Park.

They had to come from behind after they conceded in the first half after Daniel Hughes had opened the scoring for the visitors. Waterworth hit back just seconds later, and the Blues striker added his second after the break to complete the turnaround.

The game had started slowly on a freezing night, with the first chance eventually falling to the home side in the 16th minute after Kirk Millar was teed up by Stephen Fallon's pull-back cross, only for the winger to blaze over from 15 yards after opting to try a rabona rather than sweep at it with his left.

Although clear chances were at a premium, Dungannon had looked composed on the ball in the early exchanges, so it came as no real surprise when they opened the scoring after 26 minutes.

Rhyss Campbell crossed from wide to find Kris Lowe lurking unmarked on the edge of the box. He looked primed to shoot but disguised a clever pass, turning it inside to Daniel Hughes who placed his effort into the bottom corner via the post.

However, the Blues pulled level less than a minute later after Alan Teggart's miscue. Linfield immediately went long from the kickoff, and the left-back tried to head it centrally to Douglas Wilson. But his pass split the central defenders, allowing Waterworth to sneak in to roll the ball first-time beyond Conor Byrne from 16 yards.

Chances dried up until just after the hour, when the Blues burst into life with a flurry of attacking activity. Millar's free kick was deflected over and Rory Currie had a shot blocked from close range before Waterworth scored the decisive second with 64 minutes gone.

Niall Quinn found himself wide on the right after Dungannon failed to clear a corner, and his cross was flicked back towards goal by the head of Waterworth, looping high above the keeper before settling in the far corner after glancing the post.

Dungannon rallied but offer little in terms of a strong response, and Linfield held strong to claim the points needed to put themselves back on top of the table.