Linfield 4, Ballymena United 1

Without a victory at the national stadium for nine years, that statistic rarely looked like changing as United were two goals down inside the opening 20 minutes.

Gary Liggett’s goal early in the second half gave the Sky Blues hopes but they conceded a third goal from a penalty and then had skipper Allan Jenkins sent off for dissent.

Ballymena made a slow start and were behind with less than 10 minutes played.

Jamie Mulgrew played a one-two with Mark McAllister on the left-hand side of Ballymena’s penalty are before crossing for Waterworth to head home from close-range.

As Ballymena reeled under an onslaught of early Blues pressure, Waterworth fired another shot wide of the post before the former Glentoran striker doubled his and his side’s tally on 19 minutes.

Mulgrew’s shot deflected off a defender into the path of Michael Carvill in the penalty box and as keeper Nelson advanced from his goal, Carvill chipped the ball past him for Waterworth to bundle home at the far post.

Glenn Ferguson was forced to make a first half switch, taking off Gavin Taggart in order to prevent the midfielder being red-carded. Already on a booking, he chopped down Mark McAllister in the middle of the pitch and was fortunate to escape a second yellow card, with Ferguson immediately withdrawing the combative midfielder.

His replacement Neil Lowry gave United a different attacking outlet down the right hand side and although the Sky Blues finally began to enjoy some possession in the Linfield half, they rarely looked like threatening Blues keeper Johnny Tuffey.

United made a second change at the interval with Gary Liggett replacing Alan Davidson and the substitute made an almost immediate impact by scoring within six minutes of the re-start.

Lowry provided a cross from the right which was flicked on by McLellan for Liggett to volley high into the net from eight yards.

But Ballymena’s hopes of recreating last season’s comeback from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw disappeared around the hour mark.

First they conceded a third goal when keeper Nelson was adjudged to have brought down Waterworth close to the dead-ball line, with the striker sending Nelson the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Worse followed in the immediate aftermath as, before the game re-started, United skipper Allan Jenkins was shown a straight red card by referee Hugh Carvill, presumably for dissent.

With a man advantage, Linfield continued to create openings, with Nelson making a superb save to deny Carvill, while at the other end, substitute David Cushley screwed his shot wide when well-place.

Ballymena’s misery was compounded in stoppage time when substitute Rodney Brown - a teenager from Ballymena who has worked his way through the ranks at Windsor Park - beat Nelson from close range for the Blues’ fourth.

Linfield: Tuffey, BJ Burns, McVey, Ward, Quinn, Carvill, Gault, Mulgrew, A Burns (sub Brown 74), Waterworth (sub McCaul 80), McAllister (sub Thompson 76). Subs (not used): Knowles, Glendinning.

Ballymena United: Nelson, Kane, McCullagh, Taylor, Ruddy, Thompson, Taggart (sub Lowry 36), Jenkins, Davidson (sub Liggett 46), McLellan (sub Cushley 66), Teggart. Subs (not used): Dolan, Munster.

Referee: Hugh Carvill (Belfast).