And, crucially, the Blues are just one point adrift of leaders Cliftonville but have a game in hand.

The deadlock was broken on 23 minutes when former Whites striker Curtis Allen popped up to head the ball past Philip Matthews after meeting a Robert Garrett cross.

Goal number two arrived ten minutes later courtesy of Michael Carvill who finished from close range after the home defence failed to clear a JP Gallagher cross.

Linfield's third came with 19 minutes remaining after Whites 'keeper Matthews fired an attempted clearance off Peter Thompson with the rebound carrying the ball into the net.

Mark McAllister then made it 4-0 on 84 minutes when he finished off a Michael Gault cross before Thompson doubled his tally in stoppage time with a solo finish after meeting a ball out of defence.