Rhys Annett pounces to score Linfield's second goal
Linfield boss David Healy believes young hotshot Rhys Annett will be a big player for his club.
The 19-year-old, who was snapped up from Dundela almost a year ago, bagged his fourth goal in three games at Windsor Park on Friday night to help the Blues stay at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership standings over the Christmas period.
It was a crucial win for Healy’s men against a gutsy Coleraine side, who are now only two points above seventh placed Carrick Rangers.
Following a totally forgettable opening 45 minutes, Coleraine’s Andy Scott smashed a point-blank effort against the bar seconds after the interval, which was a wake-up call the Blues heeded.
Classy defender Euan East headed them into the lead before Annett displayed all his predatory instincts to finish from close range.
Although the Bannsiders pulled one back late on, when substitute Andy Mitchell bundled home at the back post, it was too little, too late for Oran Kearney’s team.
Healy, a past master in the art of goal scoring, hailed Annett’s ‘fox-in-the-box’ instincts.
“You have to have that intelligence, that know-how to be in and around where that ball is going to be,” said the former Northern Ireland international striker.
“We put four or five other balls into the box earlier and we didn’t have anyone on the end of them, so credit to Rhys, it was a big goal.
“He missed one in the first-half, he swung at it with his left foot and hoofed it over the crossbar. Knowing the type of lad Rhys is, he’ll be disappointed at that.
“He is doing what we need at the minute, he is coming up with important goals. That was the reason we pushed hard to get him to the club last January.
“You can see his improvement —
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