Striker Robbie McDaid opened his Linfield objective account on the Warden Road Showgrounds on Saturday and believes it is going to be the primary of many.
The Danske Financial institution Premiership title holders merely blew Ballymena United out of the water with a efficiency of energy and fervour, garnished with glimpses of sheer brilliance.
Coming off the again of two shattering defeats — towards Latvian facet RFS within the Europa Convention League and a shock league outcome towards Carrick Rangers — David Healy’s boys despatched out a transparent message of intent.
Joel Cooper shot them right into a lead on 39 minutes, capitalising on a Kym Nelson error, earlier than Kirk Millar struck simply seconds earlier than the interval — once more benefiting on some beneficiant defending.
Chris Shields ended the sport as a contest when sending Sean O’Neill the improper method from the penalty spot earlier than McDaid earned the most important cheer of the day with a basic volley, ending off a cut-back from the wonderful Stephen Fallon go.
It was his first objective since shifting throughout city from Glentoran over the summer season.
“I loved the objective; it’s been a very long time coming,” laughed McDaid.
“I’ve needed to be affected person. I’ve simply stored my head down and been working exhausting. I knew the objectives would come.
“I’ve been stepping into good positions, however each striker wants somewhat little bit of luck at instances. The ball simply wasn’t falling for me during the last couple of weeks.
“However for me personally, it’s been a baptism of fireplace as a result of I hadn’t actually kicked a ball for shut on three-and-a-half months earlier than my transfer.
“To be thrown into robust European video games, it was tough to regulate. I used to be making an attempt to get my health up, however I knew as soon as I received in control, the objectives would come.
“The lads put some nice balls into the field, so it’s as much as me to be there and attempt to put it at the back of the online. I’m thrilled to get off the mark and hopefully it’s the primary of many.”
McDaid hailed the contribution of Fallon for his strike, including: “Stephen is unbelievable, he's high drawer. I’ve identified him a very long time as I performed with him within the Northern Eire underage groups.
“He has come on leaps and bounds during the last couple of years.
“For me, he’s probably the greatest gamers within the league, if not one of the best. I get to see him on a day-to-day foundation and he’s a pleasure to look at.
“He was wonderful, however each one of many boys put in an amazing shift.”
McDaid reckons his workforce had a degree to show after the earlier two outcomes.
“It's a must to transfer on rapidly in soccer,” he added. “You'll be able to’t get caught up on the previous, or dwell on issues.
“Sure, it was disappointing to exit of Europe in such dramatic circumstances. We might have preferred to have gone that little bit additional, however you should draw a line within the sand and transfer on.
“Europe was an amazing expertise and hopefully it should stand us in good stead for the remainder of the season. We wanted a very good efficiency and we would have liked three factors, so we're delighted we achieved each.
“The pleasing factor for us is we all know we nonetheless have one other couple of gears to undergo. Had we been somewhat bit extra medical, we most likely may have had a number of extra objectives. Ballymena is at all times a troublesome place to go to, so it was pleasing we left with three factors after a complete win.”
United boss David Jeffrey admitted particular person errors value his workforce.
“To be completely clear in my evaluation, we gifted Linfield three of their objectives,” he stated.
“We paid the worth for particular person errors – they hadn’t to work exhausting for his or her objectives. “It’s one thing you may’t legislate for as a result of we ready totally for this sport, with lengthy, intense coaching periods, with luggage of data handed on. However we paid the worth for our errors.”
“To make use of a boxing analogy, we didn’t lay a glove on Linfield which was disappointing.”
BALLYMENA UNITED: O’Neill, Nelson, Redman, Whiteside, McDaid, Kelly, McElroy (Gibson 46), Henderson (Tipton 46), Parkhouse, Graham (Kane 68), Place.
Unused subs: Williamson, Loughran, Waide, Corbett.
LINFIELD: Johns, Roscoe, Shields, Callacher, Millar (Vertainen 77), McClean (Mulgrew 65), Cooper (McKee 77), McDaid (Devine 77), M Clarke, Finlayson, Fallon (A Clarke 75).
Unused subs: Walsh, Quinn.
Referee: Jamie Robinson (Portadown)
Man of the match: Stephen Fallon
Match ranking: 8/10