Both sides had a large number of first team players available, and the good football in the first half showed that with the players eager to impress the watching fans and the Whites first team manager.

The Whites started the more impressively, and Marty Verner gave them the lead when he converted a through ball from McCann, rounded the stranded keeper and coolly placed the ball in the back of the net. More good football from the Whites saw Conor Hagan miss a really good chance to put the Whites two up, but he blasted well wide when he should have brought it down and placed it past the keeper. Both sides were going all out, in a cracking game, but neither could find the finish required for all their good play.

The second half continued in the same vein, both sides struggling to get the upper hand, and it was the Blues who struck first, with a poorly defended goal. The ball was struck across a crowded goalmouth, and with the defenders unable to clear, a home forward poked the ball home from close range.

More drama was to follow, when the referee awarded a penalty to Linfield. It looked like a harsh decision, but fortunately for the visitors, the ball was blasted high and wide by the taker, and we felt that justice had been done.

Both sides had more chances but again they failed to find the winner and a draw was the final result.