Irish Premiership: Linfield 3-0 Ballinamallard United

Linfield are two points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership after a comfortable 3-0 home win over Ballinamallard United.

The Blues had been second on goal difference, but leaders Crusaders were held to a draw at home by Glentoran.

Andrew Waterworth headed Linfield in front midway through the first half and Mark McAllister made it 2-0 with a tap-in in the 72nd minute.

Linfield substitute Matthew Tipton made it 3-0 from the penalty spot.

The spot-kick was awarded for hand-ball against John Currie and Tipton made no mistake.

After recent setbacks against Dungannon and Cliftonville, David Jeffrey's men have now won back-to-back matches in the Premiership, following on from their 3-2 win at Coleraine last week.

The Blues could well have scored more than one in the first half but McAllister hit the post with a shot, and the same player was later denied by a goal-line block by United skipper Mark Stafford.

The goal they did score was set up by Billy Joe Burns on the left wing, his teasing cross being met by the head of Waterworth who is now on 14 goals in his first season in a blue shirt.

It was Waterworth who set up McAllister for the second goal and the late penalty wrapped things up in driving rain at windy Windsor Park.