Linfield go top after fightback

Setanta Cup; Linfield FC 2 Derry City 1:Linfield moved to the top of Group One following this deserved victory at Windsor Park last night as David Jeffrey's men came from behind to win.

Derry manager Pat Fenlon, who watched the game from the stand, would have had a go at his defence at half-time, his back four at fault when conceding their first goals of the season.The fact that Linfield's equaliser was scored from a set-piece will have infuriated the Dubliner.

Derry broke the deadlock in the 15th minute. Kevin McHugh burst from midfield and when he played in Paddy McCourt, the winger's shot across the face of goal broke for Mark Farren who lashed the ball home.

Linfield deservedly restored equality within four minutes. From Paul McAreavey's corner Mark Dickson rose majestically to power the ball into the net. It got worse for Derry when they conceded a penalty just before the break after a handball offence by Darren Kelly. Oran Kearney sent Pat Jennings the wrong way from the spot.

Linfield should have moved further ahead in the 48th minute when Dickson blasted the ball over the bar. And in the 59th minute, Derry had to depend on the alertness of Jennings. Having failed to clear a free-kick, the ball bobbled about inside the penalty area before Peter Thompson's deft touch from close range saw Jennings parry the effort wide.

Linfield centre-half Kris Lindsay was sent off in the 79th minute on a second yellow card after he ploughed into Farren and Fenlon played his final shake of the dice when introducing a treble substitution, opting for three central defenders. But it was the home side who went close again when Thompson headed directly at Jennings. From that point onwards, the Linfield defence always seemed to be first to the ball.

DERRY CITY: Jennings; McCallion (Beckett, 80 mins.), Kelly, Oman, Rogers; Deery, Molloy, Martyn (Higgins, 80 mins.), McCourt (McGlynn 80 mins.); McHugh, Farren.

LINFIELD: Mannus; Ervin, Lindsay, Murphy, McCann; Dixon, Mulgrew, McAreavey, Kearney (McShane, 69 mins.); Thompson, Stewart (Bailie, 80 mins.)

Referee: Antony Buttimer (Cork).