CUP holders Linfield negotiated safe passage to the quarter-finals with this five goal defeat of Carrick Rangers at Windsor Park.

Peter Thompson fired the Blues in front on 21 minutes with a swivelled finish after connecting with an Albert Watson header.

Then, three minutes later, Philip Lowry made it 2-0 after he reacted quickest to the loose ball when Carrick 'keeper Paul Murphy failed to hold a Mark McAllister effort.

The issue was put beyond doubt with two goals in as many minutes early in the second half.

First, on the hour, Lowry got his second of the afternoon after being put through by McAllister to blast the ball beyond Murphy.

And a minute later it was McAllister's turn to get on the scoresheet after Thompson chested the ball into his path.

Paul McDowell almost grabbed a consolation for the visitors on 68 minutes only to see his effort tipped around a post by Alan Blayney.

Substitute Daryl Fordyce grabbed Linfield's fifth on 78 minutes with a excellently struck free-kick from the edge of the area into the bottom corner.

Carrick did manage to pull one back, however, two minutes from the end after Shane Dolan - only on the pitch for three minutes - with an 18-yard drive which crept past Blayney.

Linfield: Blayney, Douglas, Gault, Lowry, Thompson, Carvill, B.J. Burns, Ervin, Mulgrew, Watson, McAllister subs Armstrong (replaced Douglas 79), A. Burns (not used), Fordyce (replaced Thompson 73), Browne (replaced McAllister 78), Garrett (not used)

Carrick Rangers: Murphy, Murray, West, Lagan, Hogan, Harmon, Hutchinson, Hyland, Heatley, O'Neill, McDowell subs Brennan (not used), Addis (replaced O'Neill 64), Bell (not used), Deans (replaced Hutchinson 46), Dolan (replaced McDowell 85)

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• Paul McDowell and Jamie Mulgrew contest possession (Picture: William Cherry/PressEye.com)