The Blues continue to press and Niall Quinn's drilled effort from distance is deflected just wide. The confidence is flowing through the home side as Crusaders struggle to gain a foothold. 

Stephen Baxter must be thinking about making a change at this stage. 

Some wonderful football from the home side slices the Crusaders defence open but Waterworth is adjudged to have strayed just offside before hitting the post with his effort. Effective passing football from the home side though, much to the delight of their supporters. 

Tim Allen makes a point-blank save from James Gray to ensure that there is still just a single goal between the sides.

Jenkins almost nipped in for a second but was just unable to make enough contact on a Mark Patton cross.

Some fantastic work from Cushley allows the midfielder to turn defence into attack and he finds Heatley with his pass, too, but the forward's attempt whistles well wide of the post. Linfield have done well to keep Heatley on the periphery for much of this game but you sense that he will get one or two chances before long.

The second-half begins and what a big one it could turn out to be in determining the destination of the Irish Premiership title. 

At this stage Ballymena look unlikely to halt a run of nine games against Glenavon at Mourneview Park without a win, a sequence stretching back to their last success at the Lurgan venue in February 2012.

Seventeen-year-old Jordan Jenkins is showing himself worthy of his call-up by Glenavon manager Gary Hamilton, adding the only goal of the opening half to the 49 he has accumulated for the club's reserve and Under-17 sides this season.

This fixture could be a rehearsal for a Europa League play-off semi-final in the coming weeks.

Linfield 1-0 Crusaders

Coleraine 0-0 Cliftonville

Glenavon 1-0 Ballymena United

Ards 2-1 Dungannon Swifts

Ballinamallard United 2-0 Glentoran

Portadown 0-0 Carrick Rangers 

An intriguing, if not entirely free-flowing first-half comes to an end and David Healy will certainly be the happier of the two managers. The Blues lead thanks to Aaron Burns' craft and ingenuity. Crusaders could use some of the same. 

Perhaps a change in attacking style might do the trick for Stephen Baxter. Although Gavin Whyte and Paul Heatley have found themselves in promising positions, their stood-up crosses to the back post are nothing more than hopeful punts without the towering presence of Jordan Owens. 

An absorbing second-half is in prospect, nonetheless, as Linfield look to narrow the gap at the top to one point. 

Cliftonville goalkeeper Jason Mooney makes a fine save to deny Eoin Bradley, tipping the striker's effort round the post. Still scoreless on the Ballycastle Road.

Burns should be celebrating his second! A deep cross finds him completely unmarked at the back post and, with time and space to steady himself, he flashes a half-volley back across the goal. Definitely should be hitting the target from there. 

Linfield aren't done there, though, as Chris Casement stings O'Neill's palms with a 30-yard free-kick. As half-time beckons, Linfield are controlling this game. Somehow, a disjointed Crusaders defence are hanging in there as they contend a constant wave of attacks. 

Coleraine captain David Kee misses out on the chance to give Coleraine the lead from the edge of the six yard box 

That goal has certainly knocked the stuffing out of Crusaders but, when they do get hold of the ball, it's easy to see the pace and penetration they possess in attack. Whyte, in particular, has looked very dangerous down the left, but his teammates are yet to meet one of his crosses. 

Meanwhile, Sean O'Neill breathes a sigh of relief as he lets Smyth's cross slip escape his grasp. Luckily, there is nobody there for Linfield to follow in. Crusaders look far from convincing at the back.