McCrudden fires home winner at Ballinamallard

Institute produced a super second half fight-back to deservedly claim a 3-2 win at Ballinamallard United.
Institute goalscorers Darren McFadden and Stephen O'Flynn celebrates their opening goal at Ballinamallard United. Picture by John McVittyInstitute goalscorers Darren McFadden and Stephen O'Flynn celebrates their opening goal at Ballinamallard United. Picture by John McVitty
Institute goalscorers Darren McFadden and Stephen O'Flynn celebrates their opening goal at Ballinamallard United. Picture by John McVitty

Michael McCrudden also showed what the Waterside men have been missing as the talented Gobnascale man came off the bench for his first taste of action this season, to fire home an unstoppable winner just before hour mark.

In truth the Drumahoe club could have won by a bigger margin, but once again Mark Scoltock was super at the back as he marshalled Anthony Elding all day and also at the death made a host of crucial headers.

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Eugene Ferry was called into action on five minutes when he dived low to keep out Elding’s 20 yard strike.

The visitors broke the deadlock with their first real effort on goal on nine minutes and what an effort it was.

Midfielder Thomas McBride played the ball just in behind right-back Liam McMenamin to find Darren McFadden and he made no mistake blasting home with his left foot from just inside the right hand side of the United box, catching out United keeper Fergal Murphy.

It didn’t take the home side long to level things when good play by Liam Martin saw the winger jump back to his feet quickly after Scoltock had initially challenged him, before his left wing cross from virtually on the touch-line fell perfectly for Elding and he gleefully made no mistake from close range.

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The woodwork came to Stute’s rescue on 29 minutes as the lively Johnny Lafferty ghosted into the visitor’s box, but his left footed strike, which had Ferry beaten, came back off the bar.

Minutes before the interval a Mark Scoltock knock down inside the box from Aaron Walsh’s free-kick found McFadden, but his strike on the turn from 12 yards flashed just wide.

Right on the stroke of half-time Cathal Beacom’s corner from the right fell perfectly for David Kee but his mishit his shot with his weaker right foot from just inside the box fell perfectly for Leon Carters to turn the loose ball home.

Institute levelled things on 48 minutes when a game of head tennis from Walsh’s corner saw Scoltock and McBride combine before O’Flynn nodded home from virtually on the goal-line.

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Paul Kee’s side regained the lead on 57 minutes in fantastic fashion thanks to McCrudden’s first touch.

The talented midfielder picked the ball up 30 yards from goal before with virtually his first touch saw his wonder strike flash past Murphy.

Elding had a good chance to equalise on 70 minutes but his close range glancing header flew just over the bar after another Martin cross had caused problems.

Ballinamallard United: Murphy, McMenamin, Carters, Stafford, Kee, Martin (Campbell 79), Hutchinson, Elding, Lafferty (McCartney 72), Currie (Foy 79), Beacom.

Institute: Ferry, McLaughlin, Scoltock, Crown; Curry, McManus (Ballard 79), Walsh, McBride, McKeever; O’Flynn, McFadden (McCrudden 54).

Referee: Mr Ian McNabb (Belfast).

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