The Blues stay a point clear at the top of the Carling Premiership after an impressive win at Windsor Park.

Curtis Allen slipped the ball under keeper David Miskelly for the 29th minute opener and Philip Lowry hit the bottom corner four minutes later.

Billy Joe Burns fired in the third early in the second half and Allen made it 4-0 with a cool finish.

Jamie Tomelty completed the rout against a disappointing Portadown team with 12 minutes left.

Portadown were particularly wasteful in the final third and it was a quiet night for Blues keeper Alan Blayney.

The scoreline could have been more embarrassing for the visitors with Robert Garrett shooting wide from 10 yards in the first half.

Burns headed over from close-range just minutes after he scored as David Jeffrey's side displayed their title credentials.

Cliftonville remain Linfield's closest challengers after they defeated bottom club Lisburn Distillery 1-0 in north Belfast.

The Blues may be just a point clear but vitally they have two games in hand on both the Reds and third-placed Glentoran.

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