The Whites came closest to opening the scoring, though, when Darren Armour wasted a gilt-edged opportunity to fire them in front after 22 minutes when Alan Mannus conceded a penalty for a foul on Andrew Waterworth but unfortunately for the frontman the 'keeper redeemed himself when he dived correctly to his left, his trailing leg keeping the ball out.

And it proved to be a costly miss just two minutes later when Aidan O'Kane crossed from the left for Mark Dickson to blast the Blues in front.

Dickson doubled Linfield's advantage nine minutes from time when his corner from the left sailed straight into the net unchallenged.