McCready inspires 'Stute victory

INSTITUTE recorded their first victory of the season over Dungannon Swifts, at a bitterly cold Riverside Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Waterside men fully deserved their win and moved a massive ten points clear of bottom club Lisburn Distillery, who themselves lost 2-0 at champions Glentoran.

For boss John Gregg he was thrilled that his team finally got back to winning ways.

"It was a big three points and whenever you consider Ruairi McClean pulled out just before the game and Sean Friars, who has to take a lot of credit for playing, had to come off in the first half, I thought it was a massive win for us," he said.

"I thought Tony Shields in midfield was super, while David Ogilby and Ruairi Boyle at centre-half were also super, but it was a great honest team performance all round.

"I said to young Graham Crown that he came on at a difficult time, but he went into the middle of the park and looked as though he has played there all his life."

Once again youngster Joe McCready looked a handful up front all night, something which didn't go unnoticed by his manager.

"There was people asking me to bring in another striker, but you have to put your faith in those young boys and I said a few weeks ago that I would give Joe his chance and I'll continue to give him a chance as long as he keeps working hard.

"In my opinion Joe is getting better and better, he didn't score but he did have two or three good chances and whenever we break you could see the energy and him busting a gut to get into the box.

"Both Crowner and McCready are a credit to our youth and reserve team systems and they are a credit to all the work which is being done behind the scenes," concluded Gregg.

The home side took an eighth minute lead when Sean Friars' corner was flicked on by Ryan Semple and the alert David Ogilby blasted home his third goal in two games.

Swifts striker Chris Morgan was denied an equaliser on 21 minutes when his goal bound shot from 10 yards was blocked by Ogilby and the former Newry City striker's follow-up shot failed to trouble Gavin Cullen.

The Waterside men doubled their advantage on 38 minutes in fortunate circumstances when centre-back Adam McMinn's header back towards his own net caught out keeper Alvin Rouse and the ball trickled into the unguarded goal.

Just before half-time Morgan, who started the game because leading marksman Timmy Adamson picked up an injury in the warm-up, showed some super close control to get away from Boyle, but his close range side footed effort was saved by Cullen.

The silky skilled McCready had a super opportunity to score on 77 minutes, but Rouse came rushing off his line to save at his feet, after Crown's initial perfect pass had created the chance.

Institute: Cullen, Wray, Boyle, Ogilby, Seydak; Semple, Shields, Friars, Holmes; McClements, McCready. Subs: Crown for Friars (38); Blackburn for Semple (62); Deane for McClements (83).

Dungannon Swifts: Rouse, McAllister, McMinn, Ferguson, McClean, Gallagher, McCann, McCafferty, McIlmoyle, Morgan, Ward. Subs: Emerson & Coney for Morgan & McCann (57); Forker for McAllister (74).

Referee: Mr Paddy McFadden (Londonderry).