BLUES BOSS IT AT THE SHOWGROUNDS
Linfield, runners-up last season, kicked off their attempt to go one better this time around with a win away to a new look Ballymena United.
A frantic start to proceedings saw Calvin McCurry go clear after running onto a Ben Kennedy through ball but Chris Johns reacted quickly to deal with the danger and make the clearance.
At the other end Euan East sent the ball across the face of goal but no-one was able to make contact while, for United, Josh Carson saw a low effort kept out by Johns.
Scoreless at the break, the Blues seized the advantage nine minutes into the second half when Chris McKee was alert to touch home a Kirk Millar free-kick from close range.
McKee then turned an effort into the side netting from a Matthew Fitzpatrick cross.
But Linfield made sure of the points nine minutes from time courtesy of a Chris Shields spot-kick which sent Sean O'Neill the wrong way, awarded after Donal Rocks had upended Joel Cooper in the area.
Ballymena United: O’Neill, Lafferty, Rocks, Gawne, Jarvis, Kennedy, Place, O’Donnell, McCurry, Loughran, Carson subs Johnston, Barr, McMullan, Tennant, McMurray, Stewart, Hood
Linfield: Johns, Roscoe, East, Whiteside, Shields, Millar, McClean, Cooper, McKee, McGee, Fitzpatrick subs Walsh, McBrien, Ballantyne, Fallon, Archer, Annett, McKay
Substitution 
Substitution 
