Sports Direct Premiership promotion-relegation play-off, first leg
Institute 1 Ballymena United 0
INSTITUTE are one step away from returning to top-flight football after this win over Ballymena United at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
Ex-Northern Ireland international Daniel Lafferty netted his second goal for the club and his second-half wonder strike deserved to win any game.
The Braidmen went close to breaking the deadlock on 11 minutes as Fraser Taylor’s long-range shot deflected off Dylan King and spun past goalkeeper Fintan Doherty, but came crashing back off the keeper’s right post.
Moments later, United should have done better as Noah Stewart showed good skill to get away from Caoimhin Porter, but from an acute angle the young winger’s effort hit the side-netting.
Just before the half-hour mark, United goalkeeper Sean O’Neill was called into action as he did very well to tip over Porter’s powerful 20-yard strike.
Institute had two great chances in quick succession just before the break but O’Neill did well to keep out Jamie Dunne’s first shot, before defender Steven McCullough kept out Porter’s follow-up strike.
Jim Ervin’s side had a big shout for a penalty on 48 minutes as Sean Brown burst down the right and saw his cross blocked by Porter’s outstretched arm, but referee Evan Boyce rightfully let the game continue and waved away United’s appeals.
The Drumahoe club started the second half well and went close on 55 minutes but midfielder Liam Mullan’s long-range strike fizzed just over O’Neill’s crossbar.
Institute deservedly took the lead on 57 minutes when following a lung-bursting run by Michael Harris, the striker laid the ball off to Jamie Dunne, the left winger cut inside to find Lafferty and the Derry native made no mistake from 30 yards, firing high into O’Neill’s top right corner.
With their tails up, the home side drew O’Neill into action again soon after, but Porter’s tame left-foot shot was easily gathered by the former Crusaders shot-stopper.
Right at the death, McCullough’s ball into the box found Stewart, but his close-range shot was blocked by Oisin Devlin.
Deep into stoppage-time, Sean Brown’s angled drive from the right side of the box was superbly kept out by Doherty, the keeper diving low to boot the ball away.
Evan Boyce’s final whistle, which came on 100 minutes, was greeted by massive cheers from the large home support.
Institute Doherty, Porter (Tweed 80), Leppard, King, Lafferty (Burke 89), Quigley; Mullan, Devlin, Carlin (McGinty 83); Dunne (McLaughlin 89), Harris
Ballymena United O’Neill, Whiteside, Gawne (Place 78), McCullough, Taylor, Boyle, Brown, Stewart, Barr (Rocks 61), McCurry (McMurray 84), McCallion.
Referee Evan Boyce (Ballygowan)
