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Linfield 1 - 0 Ballymena Utd

It was the Linfield midfielder's 9th goal of the season and one which may prove vital when the silverware is being handed out at the end of the current campaign.

The first chance of the game came on 10 minutes. Jamie Mulgrew played the ball into Curtis Allen's feet in the centre of the pitch and the former Distillery man stepped over the ball to allow it to run through to the onrushing Philip Lowry.

With only one defender between Lowry and the goalkeeper, the Linfield midfielder shifted the ball onto his right foot before dragging his shot straight into the hands of the grateful Nelson from around 16 yards.

The same player had another chance on 22 minutes. Mark McAllister fed Damien Curran on the left and his cross found Lowry who had jumped highest but unfortunately for Linfield his header was high and wide.

Winkie Murphy flashed a free header wide following a Tomelty corner from the right as Linfield continued to press in the early stages of the game.

Ballymena should have made it 1-0 on 38 minutes. Gary Muir's corner from the right found Gary Haveron in the centre and his bullet header went just wide of Blayney's goal. Had the effort been on target, the Linfield keeper would have been well beaten.

Billy Joe Burns' long throw on 40 minutes caused havoc in the Ballymena box. The ball was flicked on by the head of Mark McAllister and Jamie Tomelty fired a shot straight at Nelson from all of 8 yards. A decent chance for Linfield who had looked laboured in the first half of this game.

Aaron Burns floated in a great corner from the right on 46 minutes and Billy Joe Burns flashed a header just wide of Nelson's goal.

Linfield took the lead on 50 minutes and in stylish fashion. Philip Lowry played a great one two with Winkie Murphy inside the box and finished by firing the ball beyond Dwayne Nelson and into the bottom right hand corner of the net - yet another goal to add to the young midfielder's impressive season's tally.

Andy Smith had a chance for Ballymena on 62 minutes. Kevin Kelbie released him on the left and he cut inside before drilling the ball low and hard from the left hand corner of the penalty area. Alan Blayney was equal to the effort and got down well at his near post to smother the ball.

Jamie Mulgrew's curling effort on 64 minutes almost found the bottom right hand corner but Nelson managed to pluck the ball from the air at the last minute to deny the Linfield midfielder the second goal of the game.

Mulgrew's defence splitting pass found substitute Paul Munster on 73 minutes but with only Dwayne Nelson to beat, he dragged his left footed shot wide of goal from 8 yards.

Darren Lockhart could've snatched the equaliser for Ballymena on 84 minutes. Michael Smith swung a great free kick into the box and Darren Lockhart was first to get his head to the ball. Luckily for Linfield, Alan Blayney was on his toes to claim the ball on his goal line.

David Cushley hit a right footed snap shot following Michael Smith's free kick on 86 minutes and again Alan Blayney needed to be on his toes to claim the ball on his goal line.

Dwayne Nelson had to be at his best to keep out Paul Munster's effort on 89 minutes. The ball was flicked forward and Munster reacted quickest to hook a right footed shot from the edge of the box. Nelson got down well to palm the ball out and to eventual safety.

So Linfield remain 4 points clear of the chasing pack having played a game less. It certainly wasn't a vintage performance from David Jeffrey's side but one that may prove vital come the end of the season.

Linfield Team: Blayney, Murphy, Curran, Lowry, BJ Burns, Allen, Tomelty (A Burns 46'), Garrett, Mulgrew, McAllister (Munster 68'), Casement.

Linfield Subs: Douglas, Gault, Addis.

Ballymena Utd Team: Nelson, Smith, Stewart (Cushley 68'), Haveron, Watson, Ramsey, Muir (Surgenor 63'), Taggart (Lockhart 76'), A Smith, Kelbie, Colligan.

Ballymena Utd Subs: McVeigh, O'Neill.

Referees: T Moutray, R Anderson & N Murphy, C Burns.

© UTV News