FOOTBALL: Blues widen gap at top
LINFIELD tightened their grip on the Carling Premiership title with victory over Dungannon Swifts.
Goals from Billy Joe Burns, Curtis Allen (2) and Philip Lowry sealed this latest emphatic win for the Blues.
The result sees David Jeffrey's side go four points clear of Cliftonville, with the destination of the Gibson Cup now firmly in their own hands.
The signs are looking ominous, and the jewel in Jeffrey's crown could be additional games in hand over the Reds and third-placed Glentoran.
The odds on the Windsor Park club reclaiming the title are shortening with every week, and with nine fixtures remaining only a fool would write off their chances of glory.
Last night's success was crafted in the opening half with goals from Burns and Allen.
Lowry headed home a third in the 61st minute to send the Blues on their way.
Mickey Ward's penalty for Dungannon couldn't derail the Linfield juggernaut with Allen bagging the home side's fourth soon after.
Linfield should have taken the lead as early as the sixth minute when Burns misdirected a header into the side netting.
At the other end Ryan McIlmoyle was gifted a free run on goal but the midfielder could only fire his shot off the legs of Alan Blayney.
Peter Thompson had a glancing header brilliantly tipped over by Alvin Rouse in the 22nd minute, but from the resulting corner Linfield made the breakthrough.
Damien Curran swung in a left foot cross that was eventually headed across goal by William Murphy, and Burns was on hand to nod past Rouse.
It was the defender's sixth goal of the campaign following another trademark late run.
On the half-hour mark it was 2-0 to the hosts when Allen found the target.
The former Distillery man picked up possession on the edge of the Swifts box, and after having time to move the ball into his left foot he delivered a sweet shot past Rouse for his 12th of the season.
Allen should have been celebrating again in the 39th minute when he raced through on goal, but as the striker attempted to round Rouse the Swifts keeper managed to palm the ball away.
Thompson was next to squander a decent goal scoring opportunity when he shot into the side netting after latching onto a sublime pass from Mulgrew in the 43rd minute.
Dungannon had a rare attempt on goal in the 54th minute when Adam McMinn headed over from McIlmoyle's corner.
Less than a minute later Damien Curran fizzed a shot inches wide of the Dungannon upright after barging his way through the visiting defence.
Both teams exchanged goals in the space of a minute just after the hour mark.
First Lowry met a Tomelty cross to loop a header past Rouse to make it 3-0, and then at the other end Ward stepped up to fire home a penalty after Tomelty upended McIlmoyle to reduce the deficit.
It would prove a rare highlight for Dixie Robinson's men on a thoroughly miserable night at Windsor, and any hopes of a shock comeback were dashed on 69 minutes when Linfield bagged their fourth.
Thompson raced through down the right channel before squaring to Allen who had the simplest of tap-ins for his second of the night.
The goal once again highlighted the growing potency of Jeffrey's new strike partnership.
It wasn't long before Linfield were celebrating another massive Premiership victory, and now their focus will be diverted to Saturday's Setanta Sports Cup group decider with St Patrick's Athletic.
LINFIELD: Blayney, Murphy, Curran, Lowry, Thompson (McAllister 75), Bailie, Burns, Allen (Munster 75), Tomelty, Garrett, Mulgrew (O'Kane 48).
Subs not used: Ervin, Casement.
DUNGANNON: Rouse, Mullan, Montgomery, McMinn, McCaffrey, McIlmoyle (McCann 75), Callacher (Morgan 60), Emerson, McClean (McAlliskey 75), Adamson, Ward.
Subs not used: Coney, Ferguson.
Referee: Mark Courtney (Dungannon)
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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