A blow for the home side as Marcus Kane is injured and unable to continue.

Finley Thorndike replaces the Glentoran captain.

The home side are appealing for a penalty as they believe Dylan Connolly's cross into the box struck the hand of Dungannon's Gael Bigirimana but referee Ross Dunlop waves away the appeals.

Here is how Paul Heatley gave Carrick an early lead against Coleraine.

Paddy McLaughlin
Sportsound summariser

Linfield are starting to find their grove a bit you can see Cooper and Millar are getting involved.

That's the best chance of the game so far!

Kealan Dillon plays John McGovern through on goal, who takes the ball wide before firing a strike wide of the left hand post.

McGovern will be disappointed he didn't test Daniel Gyollai there.

Image source, Pacemaker

The hosts earn a promising free-kick after Dean Jarvis tug on Paul Heatley's shirt.

Kyle Cherry steps up to deliver, but Jack Scott rises highest, meeting the ball with a powerful header to clear the danger for Dean Shiels' side.

Ballymena's Danny Lafferty is cautioned for a challenge on Barney McKeown.

Postpublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 12 October 2024

15:16 BST 12 October 2024

Crusaders 0-0 Linfield

In the build-up to that Linfield chance, there was a collision behind Matt Fitzpatrick and Robbie Weir with both sustaining heads wounds.

Fitzpatrick looks as though he will continue with a Terry Butcher-esque bandage but Weir's afternoon is done as he is replaced by 16-year-old Josh Williamson.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Ballymena's Donal Rocks comes through the back of Peter Campbell and becomes the first name in referee Jamie Robinson's notebook.

Kyle McClean skips past a handful of red and black shirts and forces a good save from Jonathan Tuffey. The rebound falls to Kirk Millar but a heroic block on the line from Jacob Blaney turns it away for a corner.

Not much to keep you informed about so far at the Oval with the Glentoran free-kick headed wide by Jay Donnelly in the opening few minutes the only chance so far.

Glenavon have a strong wind behind them in this first half and skipper Niall Quinn tries his luck with a free kick from distance but it's straight down the throat of Ballymena keeper Sean O'Neill.

Jamie Glackin finds himself with time and space, a luxury on a tight Taylor's Avenue pitch, but he misjudges his lofted pass for Matthew Shevlin, sending it sailing over everyone and out of play.

At the other end, a Kirk Millar free-kick is glanced wide by Matt Fitzpatrick.

It has been an entertaining opening here with 10 minutes on the clock on a changeable Autumn afternoon.

Ross Clarke's ball in is flicked on by Jordan Stewart but Harry Franklin can't connect at the back post as it flashes wide.

Matthew Shevlin bursts into the Gers' penalty area with just Cameron Stewart in his path to goal.

Shevlin gets the better of the towering defender, but just as he's about to pull the trigger, Stewart recovers brilliantly, throwing himself in front of the shot to turn the ball behind for a corner.

A couple of early Linfield corners come to nothing as they look to take advantage of the wind blowing in their favour straight down the pitch.

The first chance of the game falls to the home side after Glentoran are awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position.

Danny Amos sends a low delivery into the box which is met by the head of Jay Donnelly but his effort is off target.

Paddy McLaughlin
Sportsound summariser

Both sides have come out of the blocks and have taken it to each other. They are attacking in numbers and moving the ball quickly.