Oran Kearney (right) is congratulated after scoring his goal

A Terry Fitzpatrick own goal on 10 minutes put the Blues ahead and Oran Kearney extended the lead with a diving header on 24 minutes.

Glenn Ferguson headed in Pat McShane's free-kick six minutes after the break.

David Scullion brought Ards back into the game with a lob over Alan Mannus on 76 and Michael Ward made it 3-2 with a neat turn and shot after 85 minutes.

Fitzpatrick was unfortunate to deflect the ball into his own net for the opener after making contact with Paul McAreavey's header across goal.

Tim Mouncey missed a good chance from six yards and Kearney was wide with a lobbed effort as Linfield dominated the early part of the game.

Dungannon responded with a headed attempt by Thomas Wray, while Scullion's pass across the face of goal could not find a teammate.

Ferguson's cross from the right set up Kearney for his ninth goal of the season, after a mistake by goalkeeper Stuart Addis.

Ferguson headed the third into the bottom corner of the net after the interval, while Michael Gault went close to adding a fourth with a left foot shot.

Scullion latched onto Fitzpatrick's long ball to give Joe McAree's side hope, and Ward's goal made it an uncomfortable final five minutes for David Jeffrey.