LINFIELD F.C (Windsor Park)

NORTHERN IRELAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP, LINFIELD 3-3 ARDS, ATTENDANCE: 1,500 (est)

With an opportunity to 'tick' off three games in Northern Ireland in one weekend, I took a short flight from Liverpool to Belfast for a wee break.

The first of my three games was at Windsor Park, the home of Linfield FC and also the National Stadium of Northern Ireland. It is fair to say the ground has seen better days but there are plans in place to redevelop the ground click here

There were nervy moments for this groundhopper as the persistant rain in Belfast had saturated the pitch and there were two inspections before the game was given the go ahead around 6pm. The only dodgy areas, as far as I could see were the penalty areas, which wouldn't have looked out of place at Glastonbury!

Founded in 1886, Linfield are Northern Ireland's most successful club with 51 league titles to their name. They are currently on course to make that 52 titles as they sit top of the table going into this evenings game.

Tonight Linfield were hosting bottom-of-the table Ards, who had yet to secure a point on their travels this season.

Linfield opened the scoring through Jamie Mulgrew (17) but a defensive mix up gifted Mark McClelland (19) an equaliser before Philip Lowry (26) and Andrew Waterworth made it 3-1 to the home side. David Armstrong (40) hit back to give Ards a lifeline just before the break.

Despite plenty of Linfield pressure in the second period, they could not break down a stubborn Ards back line and the visitors visibly grew in confidence as the half wore on and, with 5 minutes remaining, Stephen Gordon equalised for the visitors to earn them a deserved point.

Post match it was a 25 minute walk back to the city centre where a few nightcaps were sunk in the legendary Crown Liquor Saloon.