Linfield stripped Glentoran of one of their trophies when they beat their big Belfast rivals at Windsor Park last night.

There was never any doubt of where the CIS League Cup was going to rest for the next 12 months after Linfield took a thoroughly-deserved 2-0 interval lead.

Goals by Chris Morgan and Tony Gorman had the Blues flying.

Glentoran gave the Blues a scare near the end when Garry Haylock fired home, but substitute Russell Kelly produced a quick reposte to kill off the champions.

The Blues were much superior in the early stages, and although Glentoran came back into the game before the interval, they never showed the urgency or control that would reap dividends.

Rarely troubled

Their defence, without the suspended Chris Walker to organise things, looked nervous, particularly in the first half.

Linfield, on the other hand, played with confidence and despite the absence of Glenn Ferguson, Davy Larmour and Winkie Murphy, always had things in control.

It was the first time in five meetings this season they they had not only scored, but defeated their east Belfast rivals.

Linfield deservedly took the lead in the 16th minute when man-of-the-match Morgan broke wide on the right, cut in and fired in a shot off goalkeeper Alan Gough's legs into the net.

Mark Glendinning and the two McCanns did their best to string together some order in the disorganised Glentoran side.

But Linfield goalkeeper Robert Robinson was rarely troubled and was confined to collecting back passes for most of the evening.

He watched from afar when the Blues stretched their lead in the 36th minute.

Linfield: Robinson, Collier, McShane, A Hunter, Baillie, Scates, Picking, Gorman, McBride, Morgan, Murphy. Substitutions: Arthur for Murphy (73), Kelly for McBride (77), Parker for Picking (86).

Glentoran: Gough, Nixon, Glendinning, Smyth, Leeman, Batey, McCann (1), McCann (2), M Hunter, Armour, Haylock. Substitutions: Halliday for Hunter (45), Russell for Armour (45), Ferguson for Batey (65).

Referee: Alan Snoddy.