McCrudden penalty saves ’Stute and Doherty

However things could have been a lot worse for the Waterside men, who in truth had referee Ken Gibbons to thank for their point.

By the letter of the law he should have shown keeper Michael Doherty a straight red card, after he awarded a penalty, because the ex-Coleraine net-minder had raised his hands and pushed Knockbreda’s Miguel Chines to the ground inside the box.

Fortunately for the Drumahoe side and for Doherty despite conceding from the spot, he only received a yellow card, which meant ’Stute’s 11 men could battle back after the break to earn a point.

On ten minutes the visitor’s had their first shot in anger, but Darren McFadden’s long range shot failed to trouble Knockbreda keeper Steven Hislop and flew well wide.

The home side went close five minutes later after James Wright’s centre found David Johnson on the edge of the box, but after the midfielder chested the ball down his first time volley from 20 yards flashed wide.

Doherty came to his side’s rescue after some poor defending by Matthew Crossan resulted in Jamie Mitchell seeing his curling effort superbly tipped away by the net-minder after the ’Stute’s centre-back’s poor header fell to the winger inside the box.

Knockbreda were awarded a penalty on 32 minutes when David Johnson was upended inside the box by Gary Henderson, referee Gibbons pointed to the spot, from which James Wright calmly side footed home into Doherty’s bottom left hand corner.

Soon after the visitors had a great chance to level things but Darren McCauley fired wide when well placed, the Waterside men were also angry as they felt striker McFadden was brought down inside the box, but neither the referee or his assistant’s saw the off the ball incident.

Moments later McFadden missed two great chances to level things but his first close range shot was saved by Hislop and he completely missed his kick when unmarked on the six yard box.

Those missed chances came back to haunt ’Stute after a terrible decision by Doherty resulted in Knockbreda being awarded a deserved second spot-kick on 42 minutes.

The keeper stupidly pushed Knockbreda skipper Miguel Chines inside the box, after the home side’s skipper had left his foot in when Doherty was kicking down field, Gibbons rightfully pointed to the spot, but amazingly didn’t send Doherty off, again Wright made no mistake this time slotting the ball into the opposite corner.

Institute pulled one back on 61 minutes when a fantastic left wing centre from substitute Declan McKeever was cleverly turned home by Stephen Parkhouse at the near post.

With their tails up the visitors continued to press for an equaliser and they made two changes with youngster Ryan Varma and Robbie Hume replacing Parkhouse and the disappointing Darren McCauley.

’Stute deservedly levelled things on 83 minutes as referee Gibbons showed good consistency.

Varma slid in to challenge Hislop inside the box and just like his opposite number the Knockbreda keeper reacted and pushed the ’Stute substitute, the Carrickfergus official again pointed to the spot, cautioned Hislop and McCrudden coolly stepped up and slotted the ball home.

Knockbreda: Hislop, Corry, M Johnson, McManus, A Wright, D Johnson, Mitchell, J Wright, Chines, Atkinson, Bowers. Subs: Black for Bowers (64); Donnelly for Atkinson (80); Young, McClean & Rafferty (not used).

Institute: Doherty, O’Donnell, P McLaughlin, Crossan, C McLaughlin; Henderson, Walsh; McCrudden; McCauley, McFadden, Parkhouse. Subs: McKeever for C McLaughlin (31); Hume & Varma for Parkhouse & McCauley (64); Crown & Carlin (not used).