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Andrew Waterworth laid claim to the match ball as champions Linfield kicked off their title defence with a sweeping victory over Carrick Rangers at Windsor Park.
It took Waterworth just four minutes to open the scoring when he connected with a Connor Pepper ball to poke a finish past Aaron Hogg into the bottom corner.
He then added a second on 14 minutes, again linking up with Pepper to direct a close range effort past the Carrick keeper.
Carrick pulled a goal back midway through the first half, however, when Alex Gawne was impeded by Chris Johns with Caolan Loughran stepping up the knock home the subsequent spot-kick.
Gawne might have levelled for Carrick soon after but his effort from outside the box ultimately went over the target while, at the other end, Hogg produced a superb close range stop to deny Jimmy Callacher.
The sides traded chances again either side of the break. Kyle McClean came close with a left-foot effort just before half-time. Then, early in the second half, Reece Neale saw a great delivery turned over by Johns.
Rangers were reduced to ten men on 56 minutes after skipper Mark Surgenor was dismissed for a challenge on Pepper and, from the free-kick awarded, Linfield extended their advantage when Callagher converted a Niall Quinn free-kick at the back post.
It was 4-1 on 64 minutes. Again Quinn provided the delivery which substitute Ryan McGivern headed home with literally his first touch of the game.
Waterworth then bagged his hat-trick on 73 with a guided header from Navid Nasseri's cross.