Old boy, Glenn 'Spike' Ferguson helped himself to four goals: two penalties, a trademark near post header and a fabulous 25 yard volley to help the runaway leaders to a comfortable 5-0 win, Oran Kearney supplying the other goal.

Glenavon worked hard but never really looked like matching the performance at Windsor Park on the opening day, with the visitors matching them for effort and work rate.

Barry Reid had an excellent game at sweeper.

The opener came from the spot after Marty Verner handled Ferguson's free kick on the edge of the box. Glenavon may have had a just cause to complain that Linfield had 'stolen' about five yards so the wall should have been outside the box but Ferguson made no mistake from the spot.

Scott Walker made a penetrating run through the Linfield ranks as far as the edge of their box but was unable to either get away a shot or pick out a team mate. On a couple of occasions Campbell and McAnallen got into good wide positions but they over hit the crosses or Mannus was able to claim them easily.

The second goal came as Kearney intercepted new boy Conor McAnallen's pass and burst through the middle to finish with a low shot past McDonald. Glenavon then held out until the 68th minute when an unmarked Ferguson made a run to the near post to meet McAreavey's free kick and nod it past McDonald. Glenavon were by then missing the presence of Davy McAlinden at the back as he had limped off five minutes earlier with a kick to the calf muscle.

The second penalty was awarded as Ferguson got his body between McDonald and a long kick out from Mannus. It appeared that the keeper got his hand to the ball but the referee Mr Turkington saw it as a penalty which Ferguson duly dispatched to complete his hat trick. The final goal was a peach of a volley as another long clearance dropped over his shoulder and he smashed the ball left footed over the helpless McDonald.

Glenavon really only tested Mannus a couple of times in the second half with Campbell's low cross-shot easily held and McVeigh having the best chance three minutes from time that Mannus seemed to turn around the post though the referee awarded a goal kick.