Drama for Healy in North’s easy win

DAVID HEALY scored for both sides as Northern Ireland’s first-half blitz proved enough to see off Georgia at Windsor Park last night.

Healy was given a special award by UEFA president Michel Platini before the match in honour of his scoring exploits in Euro 2008 qualifying, but he missed a string of chances.

The home side were dominant throughout and fashioned a classy opening goal in the 25th minute as Healy fed Steven Davis, who squared for Kyle Lafferty to score.

Taylor saw his first action of the night in the 32nd minute when he was forced to punch clear Alexander Iashvili’s shot from an acute angle. But it was two a minute later when Healy latched on to Damien Johnson’s header and shot from 25 yards. A wicked deflection off AC Milan defender Kakha Kaladze was enough to send it past the sprawling Makaridze.

Lafferty then made it three in the 36th minute with a fine header from Healy’s right-wing cross. It was the second match in succession that the Georgians had found themselves three down at the interval following their 3-1 defeat by Latvia in Tbilisi last month.

Crewe midfielder O’Connor came on for his debut at the start of the second half, with Warren Feeney also joining the action as Johnson and Lafferty made way. Georgia’s Levan Kenia tried his luck from 20 yards in the 50th minute but his shot was well wide, before Davis clipped into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Then, the visitors won a penalty in the 54th minute when O’Connor handled a cross. Taylor made a brilliant save low to his right to tip Tskitishvili’s spot-kick on to the post, and as the midfielder attempted to collect the follow-up, Healy slid in to challenge but only succeeded in sending the ball into his own net.

Gareth McAuley was sent on for Stephen Craigan as manager Worthington attempted to shore up his suddenly stretched defence. A smartly worked free-kick in the 69th minute ended with Healy firing a 25-yard shot that was comfortably saved by Makaridze.

It was Healy’s last action as youngsters Michael Gault and Peter Thompson were brought on, Davis also making way. Taylor then made a smart parry from Iashvili’s close-range shot and fingertipped Levan Kobiashvili’s diagonal shot to safety.

At the other end, Feeney curled wide from a good position after some slack defending. Alan Mannus became the third Linfield player to be brought on, after Thompson and Gault, when he replaced Taylor in goal.

In the 87th minute, after confusion in the Georgian defence, Kobiashvili was credited was credited with an own goal.

NORTHERN IRELAND: Taylor (Mannus 80), Baird, Hughes, Craigan (McAuley 59), Evans, Gillespie, Johnson (O’Connor 46), Davis (Gault 70), Elliott, Healy (Thompson 70), Lafferty (Feeney 46).

GEORGIA: Makaridze, Salukvadze, Kaladze, Kenia (Khidasheli 81), Shashiashvili (Jakobia 81), Kobiashvili, Tskitishvili (Eliava 90), Kankava, Kvakhadze, Kvirkvelia, Iashvili.