St Patrick's 1 Linfield 1:THE GROUP goes right to the wire in its final game when these sides meet again at Windsor Park on March 13th.

Both remain locked on five points apiece with an identical goal difference. And while victory in two weeks’ time would see one of them into the semi-finals, another draw between them may also be enough to put both through, depending on what happens in the other groups.

Though not surprisingly looking a trifle rusty, epitomised by Ian Bermingham wasting a 12th minute free-kick from a good position, St Patrick’s, with seven new signings in the team, had more joy two minutes later from another set-piece.

Linfield failed to defend Gareth Coughlan’s much better delivery. And though a shout of handball was heard as the ball bounced up off midfielder Michael Gault, Alex Williams, one of Pete Mahon’s key close season signings, showed his predatory instinct to keep playing and force the ball past keeper Alan Blayney from about six yards out.

Suitably roused, Linfield enjoyed their best spell of the half, forcing two quick corners and their first real scoring chance, as Brian McCaul just failed to reach Aaron Burns’s low cross from the left as it flashed across goal.

Four more corners were lofted into the home area, but to no avail as Gary Rogers’s goal survived without much trauma.

A more subtle route did bring joy to the visitors, though, nine minutes before the break.

St Patrick’s skipper Damian Lynch took down Jamie Tomelty in the box and Jim Ervin confidently sent Rogers the wrong way from the resultant penalty.

St Patrick’s almost regained the lead on 55 minutes when Ryan Guy’s header was brilliantly saved one-handed by Blayney.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Lynch, Kenna, Guthrie, Bermingham; Guy (McAllister, 67), S Byrne, Mulcahy, Coughlan (Doyle, 84); Faherty, Williams (P Byrne, 73).

LINFIELD: Blayney; Ervin, Casement, Murphy, A Burns; McCaul (Lowry, 60), Gault, Curran (Garrett, 77), Tomelty (Allen, 65); Thompson, McAllister.

Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).