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 Linfield came from behind to secure the points from Ballymena United's visit to Windsor Park.

The Sky Blues moved in front after eight minutes after Johnny Taylor got on the end of a Neal Gawley corner to glance the ball past Johnny Tuffey from six yards.

However Linfield hit back with two Chris Hegarty goals in five minutes.

First, on 21 minutes, he sent a looping header home from a Ross Clarke corner before following up after Niall Quinn's free-kick had come back off an upright.

And it was 3-1 on 39 minutes after Aaron Burns took the ball past Gary Thompson before beating Dwayne Nelson with the outside of his boot at the near post.

However, back came Ballymena on 64 minutes when Taylor grabbed his second of the afternoon to reduce the arrears with another header from another Gawley corner.

Glenn Ferguson's side might have levelled with eight minutes remaining when a Gawley inswinging corner came off a defender and onto the post.

Linfield: Tuffey, Hegarty, Haughey, Waterworth, Lowry, Carvill, Burns, Wards, Sproule, Quinn, R. Clarke subs Ross Glendinning (not used), Millar (replaced Carvill 80), Morrow (not used), Clucas (replaced Clarke 90+2), Mulgrew (replaced Burns 84)

Ballymena United: Nelson, McCullagh, Taylor, Stewart, McBride, Gawley, Thompson, Jenkins, Cushley, Boyce, Tipton subs Kane (replaced McCullagh 46), Surgenor (replaced Thompson 80), Ruddy (not used), Teggart (replaced Boyce 76), McVey (not used)

Referee: Ian McNabb

Attendance: 2136