SECOND HALF DOUBLE HELPS BLUES MARCH ON
Linfield took another step closer to reclaiming the Gibson Cup with a two-goal defeat of Crusaders at Seaview.
The win moves David Healy's side 19 points clear at the top of the table, and just three wins away from clinching the title for the first time in three seasons.
Although scoreless at the break, both sides had their chances to move in front with the Crues coming close early on when Harry Franklin was denied by a save to his right by David Walsh while, a little later at the other end, Matthew Fitzpatrick was thwarted by Philip Lowry's block from a Kyle McClean free-kick.
Walsh was called into action to deal with the threat from Jordan Stewart as he attempted to take the ball round him before, in the closing few minutes of the half, the home side hit the woodwork when Jimmy Callacher got his head to a Jarlath O'Rourke only to turn it against the crossbar.
Linfield had the ball in the net seconds from the break, but Fitzpatrick's effort was ruled out offside by referee Ben McMaster.
Fitzpatrick came close again early in the second half only for the ball to come off him and over the top from point blank range.
However the deadlock was finally broken on 72 minutes when a McClean cross, initially cleared, was headed back into the area for teenager Matthew Orr to send a looping header over Jonny Tuffey.
Then, with six minutes remaining, Fitzpatrick finally got his name on the scoresheet with a right foot finish after cutting into the area down the right.
Crusaders: Tuffey, Callacher, Weir, Lowry, Jewitt-White, Stewart, Blaney, O'Rourke, Larmour, Franklin, Barr subs Brown, Williamson, Smith, O'Connor, King, Boyd, Downey
Linfield: Walsh, East, Shields, McClean, Cooper, Hall, Archer, Mulgrew, McGee, Fitzpatrick, Orr subs Johns, Whiteside, Millar, Ballantyne, McKee, Offord, Morrison
Substitution 
Substitution 
