Rovers play Linfield in Pat McShane Testimonial
Match report taken from the Official Linfield website www.linfieldfc.com
Linfield 3
Sligo Rovers 0
Date : 6th August 2005
Competition : Pat McShane Testimonial
Venue : Home
Linfield scorers : Larmour (31), Ferguson (81, 90)
Pat McShane donned the Captain’s armband for his testimonial game against Sligo Rovers at Windsor Park today. Having made his debut in the 1994/95 season, Pat has played 307 games for the Blues.
Linfield had the best of the early chances in the first half. On 12 minutes McShane crossed from the left, but Ben Mackey’s header from ten yards was deflected over the bar. Two minutes later David Larmour collected the ball on the edge of the box, before sliding it through to Mark Picking who had cut inside from the right. When it looked as though Picky was going to blast the ball, he decided to side foot it. The ball however went well wide of its intended target.
With just over half an hour played, Linfield took the lead. Picking played the ball in from the right to Larmour, who turned and fired home from ten yards. Larmour’s finish looked all the better for the tight angle he had to cope with. Two minutes later Mackey had a good chance to double the Blues’ lead, but his side-footed 12 yard effort was easily saved.
HALF TIME: LINFIELD 1-0 SLIGO ROVERS
There were over twenty minutes of the second half played before either side produced a chance at goal. Douglas played the ball through to Thompson, but his 16 yard effort from the right side of the box went straight to the keeper. On 72 minutes McShane tried his luck from twenty yards, but again the shot was straight at Rouse.
Thompson was released through the middle with a great ball from Glenn Ferguson in the 78th minute. He went through one-on-one with the keeper, but Thompson shot too early and the keeper did well to block the ball with an outstretched leg.
On 81 minutes Thompson was released through by a fantastic pass from Mulgrew. Instead of firing in the shot this time, Thompson played the ball square to Ferguson, who eventually turned a defender and slotted home from four yards.
In the final minute Ferguson made it three for Linfield. He produced a good finish from six yards after a cross from the left by O’Kane.
FULL TIME: LINFIELD 3-0 SLIGO ROVERS
Linfield Team : Mannus, Ervin, McShane, Kearney, Murphy, Kingsberry, Larmour, Picking, Mackey, McAreavey, Bailie. Subs: Ferguson, Thompson, Mouncey, Gault, Douglas, O’Kane, Nelson, Mulgrew.
Sligo Rovers Team : Rouse, O’Donnell, McCann, Sheradin, O’Hara, Murtagh, Burns, Conn, Alvors, Brown, McCartney. Subs: S.McCann, Lovere, Connon, Flynn.
