Anderson settles North West derby

Anderson (35)

Coleraine Res(0) 0

INSTITUTE Reserves manager Allan Blair was thrilled that his young side came out on top in their North West derby against Coleraine Reserves, at a bitterly cold and wet Riverside Stadium, on Friday night.

Luke Anderson’s super 35th minute goal was enough to separate the sides and Blair wants his players to push on from this victory when they host Newry City Reserves this Saturday (KO 3pm).

“Newry are like ourselves, a good young side and they have a couple of good young players, but after the performance we gave on Friday night and with us being at home, I’m already looking forward to another challenge and hopefully we can get the right result,” said Blair.

“I was happy obviously to win Friday’s night game, but we also kept a clean-sheet.

“We had a few good performances from Chris Porter, Luke Anderson, Ashley Lowry and Conor Mullan in the middle of the field were excellent.

“Matty Smyth and Conor Kane worked the socks off up front, I think the two boys are lively.”

The future certainly looks bright for ’Stute as Blair admitted that his young squad is full of teenagers.

“There is only one player from Friday night’s squad that is over 18, they are all young and itching to get into the first team squad and as John Gregg said he’s going to give them an opportunity, but it’s up to them.

“As I always tell them there is nothing I can do once they cross the white line, so they need to grasp whatever opportunity they may get.”

The lively Anderson was the first man to trouble either keeper on 16 minutes, but his right footed drive from inside the area was kept out by Bannsiders keeper Paul Wells.

A clever pass by Coleraine skipper Lee Cosgrove released Sam Boylan but the striker’s left footed drive from inside the area was straight at Alan Ryan.

The winning goal came on 35 minutes when a super cross from Chris Beattie flashed across the six yard box and the alert Anderson came storming in at the back post to fire home from close range.

Another teasing Beattie cross nearly picked out Anderson again minutes later, but the right winger while on the stretch was unable to turn the ball home.

On 85 minutes Conor Kane broke the offside trap but his shot from an acute angle, which had Wells beaten flashed inches past the post.

Right at the death a super through ball from Kane released substitute Conor Gallagher, but just as the striker was about to pull the trigger, defender Garrett Quinn got back to make a super last ditch tackle to clear the danger.

Institute Res: Ryan, Porter, Curry, Deehan, Smith, Lowry, Anderson, Mullan, Kane, Smyth, Beattie. Subs: McIntosh for Curry (H-T); Gallagher for Smyth (82); Wilson (not used).

Coleraine Res: Wells, Forgrave, Wilson, Quinn, Steele, Shaw, O’Neill, Hennagham, Boylan, Moody, Peden. Subs: Dinsmore, Dillion, Milligan, Docherty.

Referee: Mr Darren Watt (Upperlands).