Nine men 'Stute lose to Rangers

INSTITUTE'S poor start to life in the Ladbrokes.com Championship continued tonight (Tuesday), when they crashed to a 2-0 defeat to in-form Carrick Rangers.

To compound matters the Drumahoe men had new signing Vinny Sweeney and Ryan Semple sent-off, as referee Tim Marshall looked to try and steal the show.

Apart from the dismissals the Irvinestown official was poor throughout the 90 minutes and two major decisions, which he failed to give, cost John Gregg's side dearly.

'Stute missed a golden chance to take the lead on three minutes when Semple's corner found an unmarked Thomas Wray, but the centre-back somehow headed over from close range.

That missed chance came back to haunt the home side as they fell a goal behind on 11 minutes after a goalkeeping error by Alan Ryan.

Paul Heatley's left wing free-kick drifted towards the back post, where Ryan thought the ball had sailed over the bye-line, but the alert Noel Anderson headed the ball back into the danger area and Nathan McConnell made no mistake.

Two minutes later Carrick were inches away from doubling their lead but David McAlinden's free-kick from 25 yards, which had Ryan beaten, rattled the post.

The dangerous Heatley saw his well hit shot from 12 yards on the volley, whistle past Ryan, but the woodwork came to his rescue.

'Stute's miserable night got worse when they were reduced to ten men on 23 minutes when debutant Sweeney was given his marching orders after he took his protests for a penalty too far by handling the referee.

Just after the half-hour mark Rangers were unlucky not to increase their lead when Ryan Deans' long range shot was well saved by Ryan.

Stephen Small's side doubled their lead on 57 minutes in rather controversial circumstances.

Glen Hand clearly pushed Eddie McIntyre in the back but neither the referee nor his assistant penalized the winger and from Heatley's resulting corner Hand headed home from close range after the home side failed to clear their lines.

In the middle of the Carrick celebrations Semple was cautioned for protesting about the push on McIntyre and that yellow card would come back to haunt the winger moments later.

Man of the match Heatley broke clear down the left and was tripped up by a tracking back Semple, who was shown a second yellow card, followed by a red, as the Waterside men were incredibly reduced to nine men.

In the closing minutes Heatley had a super chance to get himself on the score sheet, but he dragged his shot wide of Ryan's goal.

Institute: Ryan, McClements, Wray, King, Crown; Semple, McClean, McClean, Divin, McIntyre; McCready, Sweeney. Subs: McShane for McClements (H-T); Harkin for McIntyre (70); Smyth, Falconer & Nicell (not used).

Carrick Rangers: McKane, Boyd, Hogan, Deans, Anderson, McAlinden, Hand, Taggart, McConnell, O'Neill, Heatley. Subs: Toye for Deans (65); McDowell for O'Neill (82); Harmin, McClean & Stitt (not used).

Referee: Mr Tim Marshall (Irvinestown).

Cautioned: McClean (26); Semple (56); Heatley (76); Ryan (81).

Sent-off: Sweeney (23); Semple (62).