What about that pass from Chris Gallagher?

Inch-perfect into the path of Sean Graham, who finishes expertly.

Image source, Press Eye

Linfield are tossing cross after cross into the Ballymena penalty area but the home side are holding firm.

Eventually, Chris Shields tries his luck from distance but it's wide and the pressure eases on the home side.

David Healy shuffles his pack again as Chris McKee and Callumn Morrison replace Isaac Baird and Kirk Millar.

Both managers spring a double change as Gary Haveron adds more attacking talent. On come Conor McKendry and Tiarnan O'Connor for Benji Magee and Mark Randall.

Declan Caddell brings on the two McCarts as Odhran and Oilibhear replace Kurtis Forsythe and Elliot Dunlop.

Now it's four bookings in as many minutes as Ben Hall catches Daithi McCallion.

Referee Evan Boyce is becoming increasingly busy.

David Jeffrey
Former Linfield & Ballymena manager on BBC iPlayer

I'm going to suggest that Sean was unwise. I think he should have let one of his defenders go out there to deal with it. It's nothing more than a yellow.

Ballymena goalkeeper Sean O'Neill attempts to atone for a weak punch by racing from his goal to clear a loose ball but only succeeds in bringing down Kieran Offord near the touchline.

A yellow card is inevitable.

Ballymena's Aaron Jarvis overstretches for the ball and upends Kyle McClean with a yellow card the outcome.

You can sense the temperature has risen a few degrees in the past few minutes.

Kieran Offord bursts into the Ballymena penalty area but his well-struck shot is straight into the midriff of Sean O'Neill.

Linfield boss David Healy makes his first change as Dane McCullough makes way for Sam Taylor.

The first yellow card of the evening goes to Linfield's Sean Brown, whose loses his footing on the slippy turf and brings down Ben Kennedy.

A scramble in the Ballymena penalty area causes an anxious moment for the home side before David Toure eventually clears.

Ben Kennedy has a chance for Ballymena on the edge of the penalty area but with his less-favoured right foot, he fires it over.

David Jeffrey
Former Linfield & Ballymena manager on BBC iPlayer

The team talk for Jim Ervin will be 'more of the same, boys'. Ballymena done very well in the first half, and it's not that Linfield have been poor.

Kyle McClean restarts for Linfield.

Neither manager has made any changes in personnel during the break.

We are back underway for the second half at Inver Park.

BBC iPlayer

We've 45 minutes to go this evening, but our next stream is a tasty one as Glentoran take the trip to high flying Coleraine.

Kick-off on Friday is 19:45 BST, and you can watch it on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport app & website.

We'll also have coverage on BBC Sounds of the remaining games on Saturday afternoon, and you can also follow along on the BBC Sport app & website for updates and goal clips.

David Jeffrey
Former Linfield & Ballymena manager on BBC iPlayer

It was a fantastic ball by Ben Kennedy and it was a brilliant header by Matthew Clarke.