Played in terrible conditions which threatened to reduce the game to a lottery it was the visitors who came closest to scoring midway through the first half when Kris Hunter tested Alan Mannus from some 30 yards with a rasping effort which the Blues 'keeper did well to tip away.

Glenn Ferguson came close at the other end with an effort from outside the area which squirmed under the body of 'keeper Michael Dougherty who managed to grab it at the second attempt.

New Blues signing Mark McAllister tested Dougherty early in the second half with a left-foot drive while Damien Curran tried his luck with a rising effort with the PSNI 'keeper comfortably gathered followed by a long range Conor Hagan shot which sailed narrowly over.

Towards the end another Linfield debutant, Kevin McHugh, forced Dougherty into a low save to keep out his effort from the edge of the area.