Darren Fitzgerald's goal earned Ards a point against Linfield

Having been knocked off the top by the home defeat to Ballymena United a week earlier, David Jeffrey's side were looking for full points against Ards.

But they were denied by a second half equaliser by Darren Fitzgerald.

Ards took an early lead through a Gary Kennedy penalty before Aidan O'Kane and David Larmour scored for the Blues.

The eighth minute penalty was awarded for Darren Murphy's foul on Derek Delaney and Kennedy tucked it past Alan Mannus.

Linfield got level on 18 minutes from a free-kick after Delaney had fouled Phil Charnock. O'Kane beat Ards keeper Andrew Fox with a sweetly-struck shot.

The champions took the lead on 22 minutes when Larmour got away from Alun Rees and caught Fox off his line with a perfectly-executed lob.

Ards' 53rd minute equaliser came after a move involving Delaney and Kris Pike and when the ball was fed through Fitzgerald went on to beat Mannus.

Linfield went close to going behind when Raymond Campbell saw his shot hit an upright.

Mannus also saved well from Kennedy while, at the other end, Andrew Hunter had a shot deflected wide of the target.

Linfield almost snatched it in injury-time but Peter Thompson's effort crashed off the woodwork. Then Pat McShane was just too high with a fiercely-struck free-kick.

Daily Mirror Irish Premier League
Ards 2-2 Linfield