Derry's Conor Sammon and Kris Lindsay in an aerial duel at Windsor

Thomas Stewart put the Blues ahead on 23 minutes when his header struck Clive Delaney before finding the net.

The prolific Peter Thompson fired into the bottom corner from Mark Dickson's cross to make it 2-0 on 40 minutes.

Ciaran Martyn netted in the 79th minute to give Derry hope but Glenn Ferguson sealed the win with a penalty seven minutes later after a foul on Stewart.

Linfield boss David Jeffrey made six changes for the game while the Candystripes team showed five changes as the game kicked off in blustery conditions.

In was a fiesty encounter from the start and referee Dave McKeon booked Blues defender Tim McCann after just four minutes.

The Carnegie Premier League hosts took control early in the game and man-of-the-match Thompson went close after 15 minutes when keeper Gerard Doherty's clearance struck the striker but the ball flew wide.

Stephen Douglas delivered the cross for Stewart's goal which owed much to the deflection off Delaney, which wrong-footed Doherty.

Linfield midfielder Conor Downey was forced off after 39 minutes with a hamstring injury and he was replaced by William Murphy.

The game was littered with heavy tackles and tempers boiled over in injury time with a melee involving many players which ended without even a booking.

The rows continued as the teams went down the tunnel at half-time with Derry boss Stephen Kenny involved in a heated exchange.

Kenny brought on winger Pat McCourt for the second half but the homeside continued to dominate.

Dickson had a shot saved by Doherty while Blues keeper Alan Mannus saved from Ruairdhi Higgins' free-kick.

The visitors began to press in the final 15 minutes and Martyn's goal from a Higgins pass set up a thrilling finale.

Stewart went down as he attempted to go between two defenders and City were stunned when the penalty was awarded.

Ferguson was typically cool as he despatched the spot-kick past Doherty.