Institute pay the penalty

Institute's Aaron Walsh hides his head under his jersey after firing his penalty kick wide of the post. Picture by Lorcan Doherty/Presseye.com

However in truth the game was decided by two penalties, one missed by Stute’s Aaron Walsh in the first half and one scored by United’s Jason McCartney after the break.

On three minutes a well worked corner routine saw Robbie Hume’s drilled delivery to the near post find Stephen O’Flynn, but the Stute striker blasted over from close range.

Institute missed a golden chance to take the lead on eight minutes but Walsh dragged his penalty wide, with United keeper Stefan McCusker diving the wrong way to his left, after Mark Stafford had upended Jordan Armstrong inside the box.

More good play by the Waterside men ended with Armstrong’s centre from the left finding Hume, but his header from 14 yards sailed inches over McCusker’s crossbar.

United had a super chance themselves on 27 minutes when a defensive mistake allowed Stafford free inside the six yard box, but the big centre-back’s attempted lob over Eugene Ferry, sailed just over.

Moments later a clever flick by Hume released the lively Armstrong, but the striker dragged his effort just past McCusker’s left hand post.

Institute fell a goal behind on 56 minutes when Ferry brought down Ryan Campbell inside the box and McCartney, unlike Walsh in the first half, made no mistake from the spot, firing home from 12 yards.

The woodwork came to Paul Kee’s side rescue just after the hour mark when Johnny Lafferty’s centre found Liam Martin, but his header hit the crossbar.

Stafford hit the post minutes later, this time the big defender out-jumped Ferry, his glancing header rolled towards the empty net but fortunately for the Stute net-minder, the ball hit the post.

With ten minutes remaining the vistiors wrapped the points up when McCartney’s left wing corner found David Kee and the substitute with his weaker right foot turned the ball home from 12 yards.

Institute: Ferry, O’Donnell, Scoltock, Crown, Curry (McVeigh 74); McManus, Walsh, Forker (Young 72); Armstrong (Doherty H-T), O’Flynn, Hume.

Ballinamallard United: McCusker, Crilly, McMenamin, Stafford, McLaughlin, Hutchinson (Foy 26), Lafferty (Kee 67), Currie; Martin, Campbell (Feeney 88), McCartney.

Referee: Mr Peter McGrath (Newtownabbey).