Arthur Duffy on the historic return of Linfield to the Brandywell for a friendly played in the perfect spirit

Linfield celebrated their highly publicised return to Brandywell last night with an 84th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw, much to the delight of their travelling support of 300.

And it was a diplomatic finish to a game which had been shrouded in controversy. Yet, despite concerns, the game passed off peacefully with no incidents reported.

It was also clear the security arrangements put in place proved more than adequate, and both sides appeared content to share of the spoils.

The kick-off was delayed for seven minutes and a media frenzy descended on the players as they entered the pitch, and the faces of respective captains Peter Hutton of Derry City and Linfield's William Murphy are expected to be prominent in this morning's local sports pages.

While the usual banter was certainly evident among both sets of supporters, the estimated attendance of 2,500 impeccably observed one minute's silence in memory of the late Paddy Leonard, a long-standing and fervent "Candystriped" supporter.

A convoy of coaches ferried the 300-strong Linfield support into Brandywell Stadium, with any police presence outside the ground particularly low key.

There was no doubt that the occasion was historic and credit to both clubs who, it must be said, remained adamant that the game would kick off despite a number of hiccups over the past few days.

Brian Cash, who spent seven years at Nottingham Forest, made his Derry debut on the right flank and he almost broke the deadlock following a Gary Beckett cross in the fifth minute.

The Englishman, however, was denied by the legs of Linfield goalkeeper Greg Shannon.

But, five minutes later, the home attendance erupted when Dublin referee David McKeon immediately pointed to the penalty spot after Barry Spence impeded Derry's Killian Brennan inside the area.

Up stepped Alan Murphy and the Galwayman drove the ball into the corner giving Shannon no chance.

And the home side could so easily have doubled their lead before half-time but Cash and Beckett failed to hit the target.

In the 73rd minute, Shannon pulled off a spectacular stop with his leg to turn a Murphy shot around his post.

And Derry went close again in the 81st minute, but Linfield full back Aidan O'Kane did well to whip substitute Sean Hargan's shot off his goal-line.

But the Blues grabbed that late equaliser when two substitutes combined. Stuart King floated in a corner from the left, and when the ball broke to Mark Picking he drove his shot to the net from 12 yards.

DERRY CITY: Forde; McCallion, Hutton, Delaney, D Brennan; Cash, Doherty, Murphy, K Brennan; Farren, Beckett. Subs: Hargan for K Brennan (63 mins); McGlynn and Twigg for Cash and Farren (both 75 mins).

LINFIELD: Shannon; Douglas, Spence, Murphy, McShane; McCann, McAreavey, Simpson, O'Kane; Larmour, Campbell. Subs: King and Irwin for Douglas and McShane (both 52 mins); Picking for Simpson (60 mins); Dunlop for McAreavey (69 mins); Bell for Campbell (75 mins).

Referee: David McKeon (Dublin).