Draws galore for ’Stute youths

The Under 13’s drew 1-1 with Maiden City, while the Under 15’s originally game against Bangor was postponed, they drew 2-2 in a friendly with Tristar and the Under 14’s suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at Bertie Peacock Youth.

This weekend the Under 13’s travel to Crusaders, the Under 14’s entertain Cliftonville and the Under 15’s will be hoping it’s second time lucky for them they hope to face Bangor in the Northern Ireland Boys Football Association Cup, while the Under 19’s do not play again until early February.

Bertie Peacock U14...4

Institute U14...0

This was another game for ’Stute where the score line didn’t even come close to reflecting the match.

In what has become a trend in recent games, Institute conceded within the opening few minutes, Bertie’s striker arriving unmarked in the box to neatly tuck away from a cut back.

However the remaining goals didn’t arrive until the last five minutes when ’Stute were really pushing on for an equaliser.

In the time in between ’Stute played the better football and were denied a deserved leveller by a soft refereeing decision.

In the first half Kinkaid saw a strong left footed effort ricochet off the keeper and just wide enough that the angle was too great for Gamble to convert the rebound.

Adams and Gamble caused lots of problems as they switched wings and the midfield got a good hold of the game.

Cloete was a tower at the back and Hand put in an immense display at left back winning tackle after tackle and driving up the line to support the forwards.

The talking point of the game came with ten minutes left as a long range free kick was parried straight out by the home goalkeeper, Anderson followed it up and headed against the keeper’s chest and Kinkaid then poked over the line only for the referee to rule it out.

The goal would have been just reward for a gritty and determined performance. It says a lot about the level the boys are playing at when you consider Bertie’s are fourth in the league and last week’s opponents Ridgeway are third.

Maiden City U13...1

Institute U13...1

The upturn in form for the Under 13’s continued at the weekend with a creditable draw against third in the table Maiden City Soccer Academy.

Maiden City U13’s came into the match smarting from a 3:0 defeat to Glenavon in their previous match but it was Institute who started the brighter of the two sides.

Institute had edged Maiden City in the early exchanges and took an early lead when the quick-thinking Eugene Burns put pressure on the Maiden City left back robbing him of the ball and playing a slick cross field pass to the Institute left wing Marc McCloskey who rifled the ball into the Maiden City net from the edge of the box.

The second half saw Maiden City score and early equaliser from a defensive errors from Institute. First a defender chose to attempt to play the ball from defence rather than take the prudent option of putting the ball out when under pressure.

A rash tackle followed in an attempt to win the ball back and the defence failed to react quickly to the loose ball after Institute keeper Danny Jones saved the penalty.

The second half saw Maiden City having increasing dominance of possession but they remained vulnerable to Institute’s counter attacks and but for some wasteful passing and finishing Institute could have taken home the three points.

Maiden City continued to press but the match ended 1-1.

Next up for Institute they travel to Mallusk to face Crusaders this Saturday and this will prove the stiffest test of Institute’s newly acquired resolve.