The Blues avenged their opening day defeat at the hands of the Sky Blues as they stretched their unbeaten sequence to 15 league games.

Matthew Fitzpatrick's fourth goal in six league games since returning from injury gave the Blues a fifth minute lead which was added to by Isaac Baird and a David Toure own goal before the interval.

The defeat sees Ballymena drop to 10th position in the league standings as their inconsistent form continues.

Linfield continue unbeaten run

Ballymena made a bright start with Chris McKee playing Success Edogun down the left hand channel but the striker's cross-shot didn't find anyone on the end of it.

Instead it was the visitors who went in front inside five minutes. Ballymena initially looked to have repelled a Linfield attack but the visitors quickly recycled the ball to the left and Kitt Nelson crossed low for Fitzpatrick to guide an effort past David Walsh.

Nelson was also involved in Linfield's second goal on 18 minutes when, after Fitzpatrick had headed Kyle McClean's corner back across goal, the Preston loanee's pass fell to the feet of Baird who turned sharply before firing a low shot past Walsh.

A third Linfield goal duly arrived on 26 minutes when Fitzpatrick's cross from the right was diverted past the helpless Walsh by Sky Blues defender David Toure.

In a rare Ballymena attack, Success Edogun laid the ball into the run of Charleie Allen who burst into the penalty area, but his left-footed shot was beaten away by Linfield keeper Chris Johns.

In a much quieter second period, Linfield came close when defender Ben Hall met a Kyle McClean corner, but his header flashed narrowly over.

At the other end, Edogun beat Johns to a Len O'Sullivan cross, but the striker's header bounced wide of the post while Edogun also fired a shot into the side netting later in the half.