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FT: Linfield 1-0 Larne (19: 45) Watch: Andy Ryan shown straight red card before half-time Watch: Kieran Offord scores his first Linfield goal Paul Kelly FT: Linfield 1-0 Larne That is all from us as leaders Linfield stretched their lead at the top of the table and their unbeaten run in the league to 11 games with a hard-fought win against 10-man Larne. Andy Ryan was sent off in the first half, with Kieran Offord netting the winner in the second to seal the win. You can read the report on the BBC Sport website. We will be back tomorrow with live text commentary as Cliftonville host Carrick Rangers at Solitude. See you then, but for now, goodnight. Linfield 1-0 Larne Linfield move 20 points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership with a 1-0 win over 10-man Larne. The visitors went down to 10-men just before the break as Andy Ryan was sent off for his challenge on Kyle Mc Clean. Kieran Offord won it for the Blues with his first goal in Linfield colours since his January move from St Mirren following a loan spell at Crusaders for the first half of the season. Larne trail the Blues by 25 points in the league now, but do have five games in hand. Glentoran also have three games in hand on David Healy's side. Linfield 1-0 Larne Linfield 1-0 Larne The fourth official has indicated a minimum of four additional minutes. Three changes at once too as Charlie Allen and Josh Archer come on for Linfield for Kieran Offord and Callumn Morrison, meanwhile Conor Mc Kendry comes on for the visitors as he replaces Dylan Sloan. Linfield 1-0 Larne Callumn Morrison almost catches Rohan Ferguson out from a tight angle but the Larne goalkeeper gets a hand to it to deny Linfield's January signing from Falkirk. Linfield 1-0 Larne Callumn Morrison flashes a cross across the box, with Kieran Offord inches away from getting a toe on it . Rohan Ferguson then makes a smart save to deny Ethan Mc Gee from a tight angle as his effort looked like it had a chance of sailing into the top corner. The Blues are continuing to dominate proceedings with their man advantage, but have been unable to create much in the way of clear cut chances since going a goal up. Linfield 1-0 Larne Cynical foul from Aaron Donnelly who takes one for his team as he bundles Jamie Mulgrew to ground as Linfield were breaking forward with intent. Linfield 1-0 Larne Chris Shields is the latest player to go in referee Shane Andrews' notebook. Linfield 1-0 Larne Very little action in the second half apart from Kieran Offord's goal. The hosts remain the team on top as they go in search of a second goal that would surely win it at this stage. That being said, the Blues have created very little. Linfield 1-0 Larne Gary Haveron looks to his bench as Olatunde Bayode is introduced in place of Sean Graham. Can the champions somehow find a way back into this one despite being a goal and a man down? Linfield 1-0 Larne Another injury problem for the Blues as it looks like Euan East requires treatment. Ethan Mc Gee is stripped and ready and will replace the Linfield defend in his left-back position. Linfield 1-0 Larne Here is how Kieran Offord netted his first goal for Linfield as he capitalised on some poor Larne defending This video can not be played Watch: Offord makes it 1-0 to Linfield Linfield 1-0 Larne Chris Mc Kee looks to have picked up an injury as he is replaced by Jamie Mulgrew. That's David Healy's first substitution of the evening. Linfield 1-0 Larne Andy Ryan was controversially sent off in the first half for this challenge on Kyle Mc Clean. This video can not be played Watch: Larne's Andy Ryan sees Red for this challenge Linfield 1-0 Larne Wasteful from Kieran Offord who tries to pick out Callumn Morrison at the back post, but instead crosses over the crossbar for a Larne goal kick. 20 minutes left on the clock as Linfield still lead 10-man Larne 1-0. Linfield 1-0 Larne Paul O'Neill is cautioned by referee Shane Andrews. Linfield 1-0 Larne David Jeffrey Former Larne, Linfield & Ballymena manager on BBC Sport NI No doubt the goal from a Larne perspective is preventable. Offord is always looking to put defenders under pressure, but that is a foul on Nolan, he barged him in the back. Kieran Offord - 59 mins Commentator's curse! The Blues make their extra man count as Kieran Offord nets his first goal in Linfield colours! The ball finds it's way to Offord off a Larne player, as he shows great strength to win the ball off Ryan Nolan and cooly finish through the legs of Rohan Ferguson. That's Offord's 11th goal of the season in the league, with his other 10 of course coming for Crusaders before his January switch to Windsor Park. Linfield 0-0 Larne Shouts of 'forward' from the Linfield fans as they urge their team to attack Larne with a bit more intent. It seems far too pedestrian from the Blues who are yet to make their man advantage count. Linfield 0-0 Larne Another Linfield free-kick in a dangerous area comes to nothing, as Kieran Offord this time shoots wide of the near post after Larne only half clear. The Blues are enjoying the vast majority of the ball now, trying to use their man advantage to break the visitors down. So far, they have been unable to do that. Just over half an hour left on the clock. Linfield 0-0 Larne Sam Roscoe meets Kyle Mc Clean's free-kick with his head, but can't divert his effort on target as it glances past the far post with Rohan Ferguson worried for a split second. This video can not be played Highlights: Offord's first Linfield goal sees Blues past Larne Linfield moved 20 points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership after they edged 10-man Larne 1-0 at Windsor Park. Kieran Offord's first goal since his January move was enough to beat the Gibson Cup holders, who had striker Andy Ryan sent off just before half-time. Ryan was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Kyle Mc Clean before Offord then capitalised on a defensive lapse from the visitors to finish from a tight angle. Larne's hopes of winning a third straight title are fading fast as they now trail the Blues by 25 points with five games in hand. After some early sparring, the first chance of the game went Linfield's way as Matthew Fitzpatrick unleashed a powerful strike after some nice work from Chris Mc Kee, but he couldn't keep his effort down. Five minutes before the break the visitors had their best chance of the first half, as substitute Paul O'Neill met Ryan's cross at the back post but couldn't generate enough power to really trouble David Walsh, who made a simple catch. The big talking point of the first half was Ryan's red card just before the break, with referee Shane Andrews showing no hesitation in sending the Larne striker for an early shower after a strong tackle on Mc Clean. Linfield were determined to make their extra man count and did just that on the hour mark, as Offord opened his account with a cool finish through the legs of Rohan Ferguson. That was his 11th Irish Premiership goal of the season, which was enough to seal all three points for the runaway leaders. Last Updated 11th February 2025 at 21: 40 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. 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