Blues five points clear after Carrick comeback win

Linfield extended their lead at the top of the Irish Premiership to five points as they came from behind for a 3-1 win at Carrick Rangers on Sunday.

Kyle McClean and Joel Cooper struck in the space of two minutes in the final quarter when it seemed it could be one of those days for the Blues and Chris Shields wrapped up the points in stoppage time from the penalty spot.

However, they had to work for their win as they fell behind to a third-minute goal from Joe Crowe whose shot from just inside the box took a deflection and spun into the net.

Kirk Millar led the Linfield charge in response but his crosses found no takers and Carrick keeper Ben McCauley was equal to what came his way when he went it alone.

There wasn't a great deal of action at the other end, but Carrick did have a couple of chances with Luke McCullough's glancing header off target and Curtis Allen was not far away from turning home an inviting ball from Nedas Maciulaitis.

Carrick could have doubled their lead five minutes into the second period as a David Cushley corner evaded everyone and came off the base of the post and was cleared.

The onus was on Linfield and gradually they began to turn up the heat with a corner into the box causing panic but it was scrambled away before McCauley made a superb reflex save to deny Euan East.

But the equaliser came with 77 minutes played as McClean gathered from Millar's clipped delivery, steadied and guided low into the net.

Two minutes later and the turnaround was complete as Cooper let fly from the edge of the box with a low shot that beat McCauley.

In added time, Matthew Fitzpatrick went down under a Luke McCullough challenge and Shields tucked away the penalty to seal the win.