William Murphy (right) battles with Newry's Chris Morgan

Linfield maintained their three-point lead in the league title race, running out comfortable winners against 10-man Newry after a scoreless first half.

Aidan O'Kane's shot cannoned off the bar and Glenn Ferguson shot wide in the first period while Tony Anderson and Stephen Garrett had chances for Newry.

Thomas Stewart scored on 48 and Glenn Ferguson netted a penalty on 52 after Emmett Friars was sent-off for a foul.

Peter Thompson headed in on 62 and Mark Dickson (80) and Thompson (86) scored.

Stewart broke the deadlock with a shot into the bottom corner from O'Kane's cross and then Ferguson converted from the spot after Friars was red-carded for bringing down Thompson.

Thompson nodded in from a Damien Curran cross, Dickson thumped in number four and Thompson converted a left-foot finish as the Blues ran out easy winners.