The Blues reached the summit for the first time this season thanks to Crusaders' collapse at Coleraine and hold a goal difference advantage over holders Glentoran.

Jamie Mulgrew opened the scoring after just seven minutes when he was given time and space to collect a Paul Munster ball before firing past Institute 'keeper Gavin Cullen.

However, 'Stute levelled just ten minutes later through Paddy McLaughlin whose header from a Ryan Semple corner crept past Stuart Addis' left upright.

Linfield regained the advantage, though, on 28 minutes when Mark Miskimmin fired into the roof of the net from a Kris Lindsay knockdown.

That was how it stayed until a dramatic closing ten minutes.

The Blues were reduced to ten men with nine minutes remaining when substitute Curtis Allen - only on the pitch six minutes - was dismissed by referee Raymond Crangle for a reckless challenge.

Then, just four minutes after that, Paul Lowry - himself a recent addition to the action - grabbed a late equaliser for the visitors when his shot deflected off defender Stephen Douglas leaving Addis helpless.