Irish Premiership: Warrenpoint Town 0-2 Linfield
- Published
Linfield moved off the bottom of the Premiership as second-half goals from Michael Carvill and Niall Quinn saw off Warrenpoint Town at Stangmore Park.
The Blues looked nervous early on with Daniel Hughes's pace causing David Jeffrey's side a few headaches.
But as Linfield improved, Warrenpoint keeper Johnny Parr made a great save to deny Mark McAllister before the break.
Carvill hammered the Blues ahead a minute after the interval with Quinn curling in a superb free-kick on 79.
With Aaron Burns suspended after his sending-off against Glentoran on Saturday, Blues manager Jeffrey drafted in Rodney Brown into his starting line-up with James Knowles also returning to the side.
Warrenpoint were the more dangerous side in the opening quarter as BJ Burns had to clear a Jordan Hughes cross and Timmy Grant going close after a weak attempted clearance by Burns.
The County Down side wasted a good chance when a charging Ruairi Devlin attempted to go it alone when a pass inside to the unmarked Danny Hughes would have represented the better option.
However, the Blues improved in the 15 minutes before the break as Warrenpoint keeper Parr reacted brilliantly to turn out McAllister's point-blank chance out for a corner.
But Parr was beaten a minute after the break after he couldn't hold a fierce Knowles shot with Carvill firing in the rebound from close range.
As Linfield began to take control. Jamie Mulgrew and Carvill went close to doubling Linfield's advantage and the second goal came 11 minutes from time as Quinn swung in his free-kick.
The win moves Linfield up to 10th place in the table but they are now only four points between leaders Glentoran in the congested Premiership standings.
Warrenpoint remain 11th in the table - just ahead of bottom club Ards on goal difference.
- Published31 August 2013
- Published30 August 2013