David Healy highlights Andy Waterworth form

Linfield boss David Healy believes striker Andy Waterworth is now playing the best football of his career.
Linfield's Andy Waterworth following victory over Crusaders. Pic by Pacemaker.Linfield's Andy Waterworth following victory over Crusaders. Pic by Pacemaker.
Linfield's Andy Waterworth following victory over Crusaders. Pic by Pacemaker.

The 34-year-old grabbed his fourth goal of the new Danske Bank Premiership campaign as his team edged past a battling Crusaders in Friday night’s top-of-the-table clash at Windsor Park.

It was Waterworth who shot the Blues into the lead just five minutes before the interval when he dinked a ‘Panenka-style’ spot-kick over the diving Sean O’Neill.

When Niall Quinn powered home a delicious cross from Kirk Millar six minutes from time, it appeared to give David Healy’s boys the breathing space they craved after surviving a late onslaught from the Crues.

But the visitors still had time to plunder a late strike when new signing Adam Lecky expertly finished off a cross from Jordan Forsythe.

Former Norther Ireland striker Healy saluted Waterworth for showing such a cool head at such a crucial part of the game.

“It was a cheeky penalty, it’s great when they go in,” he said. “Andy’s all-round game was good.

“I feel he is now as good as he has probably ever been.

“His contribution to the team, his distribution, his hold-up play...he was a big part of why we played so well against Crusaders.

“But it was a huge team effort, it was hard-fought as expected, I thought we were in control of the game and played the better football.

“Credit to Crusaders, they kept going to the whistle and made us work right to the finish.

“When the score is only 1-0 and then you see the changes that Crusaders were making, we knew they would come on strong.

“I thought we got a fantastic second goal which should have given us a cushion to see out the game.

“But we didn’t deal with the cross (from Forsythe) and when you have the likes of Lecky, Owens, McGonigle and Cushley, there is always a danger.”

Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter was of little doubt his team deserved more.

“We’ve come to the home of the champions and put in a really top-drawer display,” he said. “This is the top team in the country.

“The last time we were here they beat us 4-0.

“We have to keep setting our standards high to stay with a club like this because they are magnificent in everything they do and how they do it.

“That’s the benchmark we all have to get to, Linfield were in a game tonight – and they know it.

“We had them in all sorts of trouble over the last 20 minutes.

“They scored on a breakaway (for the second goal), in fairness it was a good goal.

“But we still stuck at it and got a goal back and then put them under all sorts of pressure.

“They were glad to hear the final whistle, I can assure you.

“I thought our boys were absolutely magnificent, they played superbly well.

“Our second-half performance was stunning.”

LINFIELD: Johns, Haughey, Callacher, Waterworth, Stewart (Fallon, 61), Millar, Nasseri (Lavery, 72), McClean, Hery (McGivern, 72), Pepper, Quinn.

Subs (not used): Moore, Larkin, Clarke, Kearns.

CRUSADERS: O’Neill, Hegarty, Lowry, Kennedy (Owens, 57), McGonigle, Forsythe, Ruddy, Brown, Thompson, Heatley (Cushley, 80), Clarke (Lecky, 66).

Subs (not used): Doherty, Hale, Caddell, O’Rourke.

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