Crusaders right-back Kurtis Forsythe sets off on a barnstorming low run but his low shot is straight down the throat of Chris Johns,

Level on the scoreboard and now level on yellow cards.

Tomas Cosgrove is the first Larne player to be booked, for a late tackle on Coleraine midfielder Rowan McDonald.

Of all the people you might expect to pick up the first yellow card of the game, Matthew Shelvin's name might have been far down the list.

But the Coleraine striker is the first to be booked, for a challenge on former team-mate Conor McKendry.

Linfield's Dane McCullough fizzes in a brilliant low cross from the left flank which Matthew Fitzpatrick is inches away from connecting with in the six yard box.

However, the assistant referee's flag is raised so the effort wouldn't have counted in any event.

A Sean Graham free-kick is headed behind for a Larne corner.

David Jeffrey
Former Linfield & Ballymena manager on BBC iPlayer

Larne are being very solid defensively, and when there's opportunity to press they all go as one.

Image source, Inpho

A sight of goal for Crusaders as Kurtis Forsythe's low cross deflects to the in-rushing Lloyd Anderson just outside the penalty area.

The midfielder opts to hit his shot first time but sends it over the crossbar.

As we suspected, Dan Bent's night is over, forced to leave the action after sustaining an arm injury.

Jordan McEneff comes on to replace him.

Fifteen minutes until half-time.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Ballymena United hit the post as Matthew Clarke meets David Toure's cross, but his effort comes off the post.

Concern for the away side as Dan Bent receives treatment for an arm injury.

He tries to play on but it looks like his evening is over after half an hour.

It's a well-poised contest at Windsor Park with Linfield dominating territorially while Crusaders look dangerous on the counter-attack.

A Linfield corner isn't fully cleared by the visitors and the ball is nodded back into the penalty area by Isaac Baird.

Chris McKee swivels and shoots but he can't get sufficient power on it to trouble Jonny Tuffey.

No is the answer as Levi Ives over hits his cross after exchanging passes with fellow full-back Lyndon Kane.

Joel Cooper wins a corner for the home side, their first of the night.

Can they capitalise?

Things are heating up a bit - on the pitch at least - as Levi Ives is spoken to by referee Ben McMaster for a late tackle on Conor McKendry.

Again, no card.

Cliftonville making the early running in Ballymena as Keevan Hawthorne is denied by an excellent save from Declan Breen.

Image source, Press Eye

Wow! That's close from Linfield!

Crusaders play the ball out from the back short to Lloyd Anderson who doesn't spot Kirk Millar closing him down.

Millar exchanges passes with Matthew Fitzpatrick before curling a shot which comes off the underside of the Crusaders crossbar before being cleared.

Coleraine goalkeeper Aidan Harris with his third save of the night, this time to deny former Coleraine winger Conor McKendry.

He's certainly been the busier of the two keepers, thus far.

Kirk Millar swings in an inviting cross from the right flank which Matthew Fitzpatrick gets on the end of but once again, he can't keep his effort down.

It's certainly been a refreshingly open start to this contest.

Coleraine defender Charles Dunne can count himself lucky he didn't find his way into the referee's notebook following a late tackle on Dan Bent.

Referee Ben McMaster allows the challenge to go unpunished.

He may not be so lenient the next time.