IRISH LEAGUE: Linfield maintain title drive with routine win against Warrenpoint Town

The Blues romped to a 6-2 victory over the basement club to stay five points behind leaders Crusaders.

Goals from Aaron Burns (2), Kirk Millar (2), Ross Gaynor and David Kee ensured David Healy’s men wouldn’t sustain a midweek blow to their Premiership ambitions.

Liam Bagnall and Stephen Murray replied for Warrenpoint, who will now turn their focus to five massive post-split fixtures against their relegation rivals.

Two goals in the opening 10 minutes laid the foundations to Linfield’s routine victory.

Burns broke the deadlock in the fourth minute before Millar doubled the advantage six minutes later.

It was 3-0 in the 30th minute when Gaynor got in on the act, with Burns (51st minute) and Millar (56th) extending the visitors’ lead.

Bagnall finally gave Warrenpoint some cheer with a goal on the hour mark, but it was a brief respite as Kee made it 6-1 three minutes later.

Murray added Warrenpoint’s second in the 79th minute but was a mere consolation as the Blues claimed three massive points.

Burns claimed his 19th goal of the season to get the Blues on their way to Tuesday night’s success.

Six minutes later Millar hammered the ball home from close range after Jimmy Callacher’s header rattled off the post.

Gaynor continued his rich vein of form when he dispatched a low drive into the bottom corner on the half-hour mark to make it 3-0.

Burns added the fourth from the penalty spot in the 51st minute after Millar was fouled by Conor McDonald inside the area.

Millar bagged his second and Linfield’s fifth in the 56th minute with a shot from an acute angle, before Bagnall pulled one back by sweeping the ball into the corner of the net.

Substitute Kee made it 6-1 on 63 minutes with a well-executed finish before Murray scored Warrenpoint’s second on 79 minutes.

The defeat leaves Warrenpoint rooted to the bottom of the table – they remain one point behind Ballinamallard at the basement.