BLUES GET BACK ON TRACK WITH THREE-GOAL HAUL
Linfield stormed back to form in style with a three-goal defeat of Cliftonville at Solitude to reduce the gap on the leaders to just a point.
The Blues almost raced into the lead early in the game when Cliftonville keeper David Odumosu slipped with the ball in front of goal but Rhys Annett couldn't make the most of the opportunity when he could only turn the loose ball into the side netting.
Then, a few minutes after that, Odumosu fumbled a Kyle McClean free-kick but Sam Ashford was able to clear the danger.
Linfield created further openings as the first half progressed, with Reds defender Odhran Casey doing well to head a powerful Matthew Clarke effort clear while Matthew Fitzpatrick could only scuff the ball off target after connecting with an Ethan McGee cross from the right.
David Healy's side did move in front on 53 minutes, however, after McClean pounced on some hesitant defendng to fire past Odumosu after Annett had played the ball across the face of goal.
Then, just over ten minutes after that, substitute Daniel Finlayson was only on the pitch a matter of seconds when he rose highest to nod home a Clarke corner.
And the Blues made sure of the points with a quarter-of-an-hour to go after Finlayson had knocked on a McClean corner for Chris McKee to turn Linfield's third home from inside the six yard box.
Cliftonville: Odumosu, Addis, Rory Hale, Mallon, Gordon, Doherty, Burns, Ashford, Casey, Ronan Hale, Kearney subs Donnelly, Pepper, Stewart, Kenny, Curran, Lowe, Gormley
Linfield: Johns, East, Shields, McClean, Hall, Clarke, Mulgrew, McGee, Fitzpatrick, Annett, Archer subs Walsh, Finlayson, Millar, Cooper, McBrien, McKee, McCullough
Substitution 
Substitution 
