Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Image source, Press EyeIt's all over and it's Linfield who claim their place in the League Cup final on March 8.
The Blues will await the winners of the delayed semi-final between Glentoran and Coleraine as they bid to win the trophy for a record 13th time.
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
The ball is flicked on to Success Edogun in front of goal.
He gets his shot away but is thwarted by a brilliant block from Linfield left-back Dane McCullough.
Was that Ballymena's last chance of salvaging something from this tie?
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Referee Evan Boyce signals three minutes of additional time.
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
We're into the final five minutes at Windsor Park.
Is there to be some late drama?
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Image source, Press EyeKian Corbally dispossesses Ben Hall and slips a pass to Success Edogun but his long-range strike is well off-target.
Was that the best option? I'm not sure his team-mates would agree.
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Linfield bring on evergreen skipper Jamie Mulgrew in place of Isaac Baird.
There are 13 minutes of regulation time remaining.
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Linfield sub Kirk Millar curls in a shot which lands on the top of the net.
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Ballymena go close again as Kian Corbally's first-time snap-shot from the edge of the penalty area whistles narrowly wide with Chris Johns only able to watch it.
While Ballymena only face a one-goal deficit, they remain very much in this game.
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Ballymena break quickly with Kian Corbally rolling the ball into the path of Success Edogun in the right-hand channel but the striker's cross-shot lacks conviction and Chris Johns is easily able to deal with it.
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Two changes apiece as Ballymena bring on Dylan McGeough and Danny Lafferty for Joel Thompson and Patrick McEleney.
Linfield respond by introducing Kirk Millar and Adam Frizzell in place of Charlie Allen and Matt Yates.
That action will keep fourth official Evan Boyce busy on an increasingly chilly evening.
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Success Edogun tees up a shot for Kian Corbally just outside the Linfield penalty area but the effort is weak and straight at Chris Johns.
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Image source, Press EyeBallymena manager Oran Kearney and his assistant Barry Johnston are deep in conversation on the touchline.
Perhaps there's another United change in the offing?
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Kyle McClean takes a quick throw to Matt Yates who steadies himself before firing a half-volley which Brad Wade acrobatically turns behind.
Linfield are on the hunt for a second goal which might well end this game as a contest.
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Image source, Press EyeLinfield's Ethan McGee sends in a fizzing shot from just outside the penalty area which is just too high.
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Linfield almost double their lead as Ethan McGee's cross from the right finds Matt Yates who takes a touch before his shot is beaten out by Brad Wade.
Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Oran Kearney makes a double change at the interval in a bid to improve his team's fortunes.
On come Sean Murray and Daire O'Connor in place of James Hood and Zach Nolan.
HT: Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
The opener.
Image source, Pacemaker
Image source, Pacemaker
Image source, PacemakerHT: Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Remember, the winner of this tie will meet either Glentoran or Coleraine in the final.
Their semi-final was impacted by the weather and was moved to next Tuesday at the Oval.
If the game is postponed for a second time then it will be switched to the Coleraine Showgrounds on Wednesday, 4 February.
HT: Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Work to do for Oran Kearney and Barry Johnston at the break.
Image source, PacemakerLinfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Image source, PacemakerIsaac Baird's header separates the sides at the break.
Linfield have been the dominant side for the most part. Ballymena have had a couple of glimmers of openings but haven't yet forced Chris Johns into any meaningful action.
Highlights: Linfield 1-0 Ballymena United
Linfield claimed the first spot in next month's BetMcLean Cup final with a 1-0 win over Ballymena United at Windsor Park.
Isaac Baird's early header was enough to settle a low-key semi-final which had initially been postponed from 24 hours earlier due to storm Chandra.
Former Glenavon midfielder Baird converted from a Dane McCullough corner as Linfield aim to cement their status as the most successful side in the competition's history.
David Healy's side will now face the winners of the other delayed semi-final between Glentoran and Coleraine as they bid to win the trophy for a record 13th time.
Linfield had a sight of goal in the opening 10 minutes when Matt Yates' through ball sent Matthew Fitzpatrick away down the right hand channel. Ballymena keeper Brad Wade started to advance off his line which made the striker's mind up to try and lobbed effort but he rushed his shot and it went wide.
At the other end, Patrick McEleney collected the ball in midfield and drifted past a couple of opponents before firing over.
The home side broke the deadlock on 12 minutes when McCullough delivered an inswinging corner and Baird ran towards the near post to nod home a glancing header.
Baird almost doubled his and Linfield's tally when he played a neat one-two with Kyle McClean before bursting into the penalty area but Ballymena keeper Wade was able to divert his shot behind at the near post.
Ballymena attempted to find a way back into the game with Success Edogun dispossessing Darragh Leahy and then bursting clear of Ben Hall. However, the striker took a heavy touch as he entered the penalty area and Linfield keeper Chris Johns was quickly off his line to smother the danger.
Linfield had another opening before half-time when Charlie Allen's shot was blocked by the outstretched foot of Wade.
The English goalkeeper was again called into action early in the second half when he beat away Yates's shot from an Ethan McGee cross.
The increasingly busy Wade pulled off another sharp stop to acrobatically turn Yates' shot behind following a quick throw-in from Kyle McClean.
Ballymena produced something of a late flurry but they were unable to force an equaliser with Edogun's shot brilliantly blocked by defender McCullough in stoppage time and it was Linfield who earned their place in the 15 March decider.
