Waterworth goal wins League Cup for Linfield

Linfield won the League Cup for the first time since 2008 with a nervy 1-0 victory over Ballymena United at Windsor Park.

The Blues scored early through Andy Waterworth, and had to withstand immense pressure for most of the match.

Ballymena came close to opening the scoring in just the 8th minute when James Knowles' effort was deflected onto the post, but that was as close as they came.

In the 16th minute, Linfield centre-back Josh Robinson carried back out of defence and tried to slip the ball through to Waterworth. His attempt was was blocked, but the ball was immediately played into the striker's feet by Niall Quinn. Waterworth took it away from his marker with his first touch, and finished into the bottom corner with his second from just inside the box.

Ballymena were perhaps lucky to keep 11 men on the field as skipper Jim Ervin was only shown a yellow card for a lunging tackle on Blues captain Jamie Mulgrew that sparked a brawl among the players.

Ballymena nearly got lucky on the stroke of half time when Jimmy Callacher almost headed past his own keeper while trying to safely play back a harmless high ball.

The Blues defender was then quickly called into action at the beginning of the second half, reacting well to turn a Cathair Friel shot wide of the post.

A resurgent Ballymena continued to attack with Jude Winchester's 52nd minute effort needing to be tipped around the post by a diving Gareth Deane. Stephen McCullough's resulting corner struck the post, and Friel blazed a great chance over the bar from close range.

The striker also saw a 65th minute header pushed over the bar as the Sky Blues continued to pile on the pressure, with Jonny Addis' follow-up volley from the resulting corner needing to be well blocked by Matthew Clarke.

Linfield failed to threaten until the 78th when Robinson headed wide from a corner, but Ballymena immediately went up the other end of pitch with Andy McGrory going close from just outside the box.

Linfield were able to continually absorb the pressure, and hung on to lift the Cup.