For the second time in ten days Lisburn Distillery fell to defeat at the hands of Linfield.

The visitors had all the early chances, and yet the Whites missed a golden opportunity, against the run of play, to take the lead in the 22nd minute. Francis Murphy drew the visitors' defence out and slipped the ball across to James Bell.Bell, unmarked, scuffed his shot from 15 yards out and the ball went well wide.

At that stage the home side looked to have got back into things, but Linfield just stepped up the pressure and on the half-hour Paul McAreavey saw his shot rebound of a post.

Half-time came early, much to the embarassment of match referee Mark Courtney who blew up five minutes early. Fortunately, neither side had left the pitch by the time he realised his mistake and Linfield went on to take the lead right on 45 minutes thanks to a super strike from McAreavey.

He looked up before thumping a thirty yard drive into the net, the shot smashing down off the cross-bar.

The Whites continued to be under pressure throughout the second- half and went two down on 52 minutes.This time it was Glenn Ferguson who scored, another excellent finish, following a shot from the edge of the area.

David Wilton then made a great block to keep out former Whites' midfielder Tim Mouncey, but Winkie Murphy capped off a comfortable win for the Blues, heading home on 83 minutes.

This defeat allied with Larne's subsequent victory over Glenavon means the Whites drop to third in Group C on goal difference.