Linfield and Cliftonville progress after scares

Linfield and holders Cliftonville both overcame scares to reach the quarter-finals of the BetMcLean Cup.

Matthew Fitzpatrick scored twice as Linfield beat H&W Welders 6-3 after extra time.

The Blues looked to be cruising into the last eight with a 3-1 advantage but Seanan Devine and Brian Healy levelled the game late on.

Fitzpatrick netted a quickfire double to restore Linfield's lead and Callumn Morrison secured the win for David Healy's side.

At Solitude, Gary Merritt and Oisin Duffy put Premier Intermediate side Strabane Athletic into a shock two-goal lead before Cliftonville won 5-2.

Joe Gormley scored his 300th goal for the Reds to pull one back before Michael Glynn and Jonny Addis completed the turnaround before the break.

Joseph Sheridan and Conor Falls rounded out the win for Cliftonville, who join Linfield, Glentoran, Coleraine, Larne, Ballymena United, Newry City and Moyola Park in the last eight.

Matthew Fitzpatrick and Callumn Morrison rescued Linfield in extra time

At the Blanchflower, Linfield started the match with intent as Fitzpatrick spurned two good chances, the second of which hit the woodwork, before Devin tested David Walsh at the other end.

The home side broke the deadlock against the run of play on 19 minutes after Healy took advantage of a defensive mix-up from the Blues and sent a powerful effort past Walsh.

However, David Healy's side responded well and levelled the game in the 27th minute when Matt Yates connected with Kyle McClean's cross and fired home from close range.

Three minutes later Linfield took the lead after Fitzpatrick's cross looped over the Welders' defence and fell to Kieran Offord, and the striker's low shot found the bottom right-hand corner.

After a slow start to the second half, Ben Hall extended Linfield's advantage in the 65th minute when the defender nodded McClean's free-kick into the back of the net.

The Welders netted their second of the night with eight minutes to go when Devine's strike from range found the back of the net.

The home side completed their comeback in the final two minutes after the Blues failed to clear a looping cross from the right wing and Healy kept his composure to score his second of the game.

During extra time, Fitzpatrick tapped home Sam Taylor's cross into the box in the 99th minute and converted Josh Archer's delivery two minutes later to give the Premiership side more breathing space.

Less than 30 seconds after the restart in extra time, Callumn Morrison scored Linfield's sixth when his close range effort flew past Walker to secure the Blues' spot in the final eight.

BetMcLean Cup results

Wednesday, 5 November

Cliftonville 5-2 Strabane Athletic

H&W Welders 3-6 Linfield (AET)

Tuesday, 4 November

Ballymena United 3-0 Newington

Coleraine 7-1 Armagh City

Dungannon Swifts 0-1 Moyola Park

Glentoran 2-1 Crusaders

Larne 2-1 Bangor

Newry City 1-0 Glenavon