Patience was ‘Kee’ to win

The 1-0 win means they march into the Coca Cola Intermediate Cup semi-final and despite the slender margin of victory Kee conceded his side showed great patience and got their just rewards when Darren McCauley scored the only goal of the tie.

“We maybe didn’t shoot at their goal enough in the first half, which was slightly disappointing, we had four or five shots, but they weren’t of any real quality, we had a lot of the ball and the good thing about it is that we had good patience as well,” he admitted.

“We didn’t panic or fluster, we just kept getting on with it and I think it was a case of when we were going to score and eventually we did.

“In fairness to the boys we had most of the play and I think they maybe had two efforts in the first half and in fact they should have possibly scored with their first chance of the game, but to be honest Corey (Wilson) probably had a quiet day at the office, he wasn’t exactly called upon a lot.”

The all important goal from McCauley came just after the hour mark and Kee felt the midfielder showed great composure, but he also felt the former Coleraine man could have added a few more goals, nevertheless he was pleased ’Stute kept their good recent form going.

“McCauley took his goal well, but he probably even by his own admission should have scored a couple more.

“The win means we have kept our good run going and now it’s a case of trying to keep that momentum going now.”

The Drumahoe man was like many Championship One followers shocked that fellow promotion hopefuls Warrenpoint Town and Dundela suffered heavy defeats in the league.

“Those results definitely gave our changing room a lift, because at this stage of the season it’s all about the team who keeps a steady head.

“Like who would have said that Larne would go to Warrenpoint and win 3-0 and Coagh United go to Dundela and win 5-0.

“The players know the importance of each match now and to be honest it’s important that the team plays well and that’s what happened on Saturday and that’s what you need at this time of the season.”

With six league games remaining the ’Stute boss is hoping the likes of Paddy McLaughlin, Joe Gray, Stephen Parkhouse, Ryan Semple and Aaron Walsh show their experience at this crucial part of the season.

Kee also wants young players like Graeme Taylor, Michael McCrudden, Darren McCauley, Darren McFadden, Robbie Hume and Corey Hegarty to also learn during the closing stages of the campaign.

“Yes you do need your experienced players to kick in and we have had these type of conversions before individually and collectively.

“But you also need other players to gain the experience from this time of the season, like the likes of the McCauley’s, McCrudden’s and McFadden’s, they need to be getting something out of it at the minute and to be fair they are gaining that experience.

“Winning becomes a habit and losing becomes a habit and at the minute we have got that winning habit and we have to try and make sure that it continues now for the next eight games.”

The Institute gaffer was thrilled that in-form striker Michael McCrudden deservedly won the Championship Footballer Writers’ Player of the Month for February.

“Michael has set his own standards this season and especially in recent weeks, so he fully deserves the award, because last month in particular he was super for us.

“He continues to not just make big efforts every Saturday but he does the same in training every week, he has been excellent at training, in fact he trains as if he’s playing in a game.”