Match Details
St Mirren Scorer :
Olutoysi Olusanya 48'
Teams
Linfield Team :
Chris Johns (GK), Daniel Finlayson, Ben Hall (Michael Newberry 45’), Matthew Clarke, Niall Quinn © (Ryan McKay 52’), Chris Shields (Josh Archer 65’), Kyle McClean (Jamie Mulgrew 45’), Kirk Millar (Jack Scott 45’), Joel Cooper (Liam McStravick 65’), John Robertson (Chris McKee 45’), Matthew Fitzpatrick (Ethan Devine 65’)
St Mirren Team :
Zach Henning (GK) (Peter Urminsky 62’), Scott Tanser (Caolan Boyd-Munce 62’), Richard Taylor (Marcus Fraser 13’), Mark O’Hara, Greg Kiltie (Lewis Jamieson 62’), Alexander Gogic, Charles Dunne, Alex Grieve (Kieran Offord 62’), Ryan Strain, Declan Gallagher (Fraser Taylor 62’), Olutoysi Olusanya (Ryan Flynn 62’)
Report
After eleven years, 364 appearances, 29 goals and ten major trophies, long-serving Niall Quinn brought down the curtain on an excellent Linfield career with a well-deserved Testimonial match against St. Mirren at Windsor Park this afternoon.
The classy left-sided player took to the field with the captain’s armband on and enjoyed a guard of honour from both teams. ‘Quinny’ played 52 minutes before being replaced by Ryan McKay, at which point he received a wonderful reception from all in attendance.
The match itself was played like a typical friendly, in the sense that both teams utilised their squads of available players to give match minutes to those in need of it. St. Mirren started the game strongly and were first to threaten in the match, after eight minutes with two chances in quick succession. Firstly, Greg Kiltie crossed for the unmarked Olutoysi Olusanya in the middle, however he didn’t make contact with an attempted volley. Soon after, Cyprus International Alex Gogic slipped in Ryan Strain and he drew an excellent diving save from Chris Johns down low to his right.
Linfield’s best chance of the match came after half-an-hour, just as they went up a few gears midway through the first half. It came through Scottish forward John Robertson who got inside the box before going past the visiting goalkeeper, however he had to check back with the angle against him, opting for a one-two with Matthew Fitzpatrick before smashing an effort goalwards which drew a good save from Zach Henning.
Half Time: Linfield 0 – 0 St. Mirren
Stephen Robinson’s Saints then took the lead three minutes into the second half with what proved to be the only goal of the game. Olutoysi Olusanya was slipped in by Greg Kiltie and the forward leathered in an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net.
The Blues had two chances in quick succession, both coming in similar instances where Joel Cooper collected the ball out wide right and drove inside before seeing two low strikes deflected wide of the post.
Olutoysi Olusanya then should have scored again and will be disappointed to have shot over the bar at close range after he was presented a great opportunity by Linfield being loose while playing out from the back.
Jack Scott threatened to draw Linfield level in his first runout at Windsor as the wing-back arrived around the back unmarked to reach Matthew Clarke’s cross, however his effort flashed wide after meeting it with his laces.
The match was then blown up early after 78 minutes due to an unfortunate and worrying situation in the stands involving a spectator taking ill and requiring urgent medical attention.
Attendance - 1476
Full Time: Linfield 0 – 1 St. Mirren
Match Images
