Visitors Derry City raced into an early lead after 15 minutes when Kevin McHugh took the ball into the area before leaving it for Pat McCourt who, in turn, laid it off for Mark Farren to fire home.

The goal arrived somewhat against the run of play but it only took Linfield five minutes to equalise when Mark Dickson rose to meet a Paul McAreavey corner to head past Patrick Jennings.

The Blues assumed the lead a minute from the break when Darren Kelly conceded a penalty for handling in the area.

With spot-kicks being a particular problem for Linfield this season there was a moment of trepidation when Oran Kearney, making his return after ten months on the sidelines through injury, stepped up but happily for Linfield he confidently sent ball and keeper to opposite corners of the goal.

Peter Thompson might have made it 3-1 just short of the hour only for his volley to be kept out by a one-handed Jennings save at the base of the post while not long after Dickson had a free-kick acrobatically saved.