The only goal of the game came on 32 minutes from the boot of Jamie Mulgrew after he dispatched a right-foot effort past Michael Doherty into the top corner following Peter Thompson's lay-off from Thomas Stewart.

They might have moved in front after 20 minutes, though, when a Michael Gault shot took a deflection off Oran Kearney only for Doherty to react well to push it away for a corner.

Linfield were reduced to ten men on 67 minutes after Stephen Douglas picked up a second yellow card for a challenge on Ruairi Boyle but despite this they held on to claim all three points although 'Stute almost grabbed a late equaliser when Philip Lowry found himself clear only for Alan Mannus to smother the ball at his feet.