INSTITUTE: Kevin Deery baffled with first half blanks

In recent weeks the Drumahoe men have went in scoreless at half-time but attacking into the changing room stand seems to do the trick and it worked again on Saturday.

Drawing 0-0 with Armagh City at the break, two second half goals from Stephen O’Donnell and Stephen Mills secured the points, but the not scoring in the first half is starting to annoy the Stute boss.

“I’m trying to figure out how many goals we scored in the first half away from the big stand,” he said.

“It’s maybe becoming an issue and I’m not happy about it to be honest but the important thing today was the three points.

“We did say it might not be pretty at times but we deserved the win overall.

“I thought Tuesday against Dergview was a pretty impeccable display and we got a point and then this time we were more ragged and we were more workmanlike but we deserved the three points.

“Draws in this game can set you back and we’re on the road now for a while so it was good to get the three points.”

Although after the win Stute didn’t move up the table, they did close the gap on fourth place Loughgall to just three points having played a game less.

“Everyone just above us lost which is good, but we were a bit frustrated because Armagh leapfrogged us because they were awarded three points when (Lisburn) Distillery fielded an ineligible player against them.

“But we knew we could go level with them with a win with the same games played and we did but we have to push on now and I’m sure we will.”