Linfield 4-0 Ballinamallard
Last updated 16th Sep 2017
Jordan Stewart scored a hat-trick as Linfield swept aside Ballinamallard 4-0 at Windsor Park.
His first half strike was followed by a quickfire double in the second, and Mark Haughey headed a late fourth goal as David Healy's men were rarely troubled en route to 3 points.
Louis Rooney had an early chance for the Blues but couldn't squeeze a shot past Richard Brush, and Chris Casement soon stung his palms with a drive from outside the box.
With 12 minutes on the clock a long ball from Niall Quinn played in Stewart, but despite a superb first touch, he steered his effort wide of the post as he tried to place the ball into the far corner.
Stewart then turned provider, teeing up Rooney but his close range shot was again saved by Brush. Aaron Burns also had a crack with his left after being played in by a defence-splitting pass from Stephen Lowry, but he dragged it wide.
It all meant the opener had an air of inevitability about it when it arrived in the 21st minute. Burns found himself in space on the edge of the box and slipped it through to Stewart, who had darted in behind the defence, to finish with his left.
5 minutes before the break Haughey saw his diving header saved - but it was parried straight to Rooney, who somehow lashed a volley well over the bar with the keeper stranded and the net gaping.
Linfield may feel that should have been given a penalty just before the whistle when Burns worked his way into the Mallard's box, showing quick feet to evade a tackle or two, before being unceremoniously bundled to the deck.
Ballinamallard finally sparked into life just 4 minutes into the second half. Ryan Curran suddenly nutmegged Haughey just outside the box, and found the space to hammer a viscious low drive towards the bottom corner which required Roy Carroll at full stretch to palm it away.
Josh McIlwaine was then played clear in behind the Linfield defence, and he would have had the entire half to run at Carroll were it not for Josh Robinson who hauled him down to earn a deserved yellow.
Linfield remained in control and with an hour on the clock, Casement's cross from the right was slammed home by Stewart for his second goal of the afternoon.
It was Aaron Burns who almost got the third, but his namesake Blaine rushed back to clear his shot off the line as it crept towards goal.
However Linfield didn't have to wait very long for the next goal, and with 65 minutes played, Stewart latched onto a Burns' header and finished smartly from the edge of the box to complete his hat-trick.
In the 82 minute minute, the Mallards cleared a corner, but with Linfield players still upfield Robbie Garret was able to float the ball to the back post where it was headed home by Haughey.