BALLYMENA United's dream of Irish Cup success came to an end at Windsor Park today, as holders Linfield came from behind to win 4-2, in the quarter-final replay.

This pulsating cup tie was only four minutes old when Linfield took the lead, as Stephen Douglas crossed into the middle for Ferguson, who caught Albert Watson off-balance and was allowed time to compose himself to rifle home from six yards.

Ballymena woke up immediately though, and on 14 minutes, Stuart King squandered a great chance - hitting a left footed shot straight at Mannus, after being played through by the tenacious Aidan Watson.

The equaliser did come on 23 minutes however, as Garth Scates' inswinging free-kick into a crowded box was met with a powerful downward header by Kevin Kelbie. The Scot had shrugged off his marker, Noel Bailie, and fired his header past Alan Mannus for his twelfth goal of the season.

The unthinkable happened only seven minutes later, as on the half-hour mark Simon Kelly launched a free-kick from his own half down the left channel to King, who skipped by Douglas with ease to deliever a superb cross to the head of Mark Picking. Picking the ex-Linfield man managed to evade the flapping Mannus to thunder home a header from six yards to give Ballymena a deserved lead at the international ground.

Despite a Peter Thompson effort being easily held by Murphy in the United goal, the teams went in at the break with the Braidmen a goal to the good - and the cheers of their large band of followers ringing in their ears.

The second half kicked off and it took the Blues even less time to score, than in the first half. As after 48 minutes as Callaghan lost out to McShane on the left, his cross was met by a miss-hit volley by Glenn Ferguson - but Mark Dickson was left completely unmarked by the Ballymena defence as he swept the ball past the stranded Paul Murphy for the equaliser.

Ballymena had the ball in the back of the net again on 61 minuets, when Garth Scates was unfairly flagged offside, when straight through on goal.

The visiting defence was at sixes and sevens, and couldn't get a grip of the second half as Linfield turned it up a gear, with Ferguson coming agonisingly close. However, they took the lead with 63 minutes gone - as Aidan O'Kane's cross was met by the unmarked Ferguson whose powerful header was saved well by Murphy, only for Northern Ireland international, Peter Thompson, to nip in and head home the rebound from very close range.

On 69 minutes, the game took another dramatic twist, as with Aidan Watson bearing down on the Linfield goal, he was abruptly hauled down by former Ballymena player, Oran Kearney, who was therefore given his marching orders, as being the last man. From the resulting free-kick on the edge of the box, Stuart King's powerful free-kick produced a world class save by Alan Mannus to knock the ball out for a corner.

Linfield effectively sealed the game on 82 minutes, when Thomas Stewart scored from an absolute howler in the visiting defence. Noel Bailie's header was overhit into the United box, but a communication between Dundalk residents Paul Murphy and Simon Kelly allowed the determined Stewart to poke the ball past Murphy for the fourth goal, and book Linfield's place in the semi-finals of the Irish Cup.

Linfield: Mannus, Douglas (sub Ervin 46), W. Murphy, Bailie, McShane, Dickson, McAreavey (sub Cullen 75, Kearney, O'Kane, Ferguson (sub Mulgrew 86), Thompson (sub Stewart 81).

Ballymena United: P. Murphy, Callaghan, McClean (sub Fitzgerald 81), Haveron, Albert Watson (sub Brown 58), Kelly, Scates, Aidan Watson, Picking, Kelbie (sub Fitzgerald 77), King. Sub (not used): Boyd.

Referee: David Malcolm (Bangor).