Penalty shoot-out heartache for ’Stute

INSTITUTE well and truly paid the penalty as Glentoran narrowly defeated them 4-2 on spot-kicks, in the Irn Bru League Cup, at the Riverside Stadium, last night.

Trailing at half-time to Stuart Elliott’s wonder strike, the Waterside men came storming back in the second half through goals from Darren McCauley and Michael McCrudden and led until Marcus Kane’s 92nd minute equaliser.

Then unfortunately in the penalty shoot-out a Dean Jarvis chip over the bar and a Elliott Morris save kept out Aaron Walsh’s spot-kick, before defender Jay Magee slotted home the winning effort from 12 yards.

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As for the entertaining tie itself on 18 minutes the Belfast men went close to breaking the deadlock when Martin Murray’s right wing centre found an unmarked Carl McComb at the back post, but his powerful header from eight yards, with keeper Martin Gallgher, beaten came back off the bar.

Four minutes later former Northern Ireland international Elliott , who was making his first start for the Glens, took full of advantage of some sloppy play by the home side to give Eddie Patterson’s side the lead.

A misplaced pass by Darren McCauley only found Elliott and the winger’s unstoppable drive from fully 25 yards flew past Gallagher into the keeper’s top left hand corner.

Soon after Elliott was in the thick of the action again this time his cross-cum-shot flashed across the six yard box to Mark Clarke, but he could only manage to direct the ball just wide.

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Just before the half-hour mark Institute missed a glorious opportunity to level things when Sean Roddy’s right wing centre found Paddy McLaughlin, but with the goal at his mercy the skipper’s header somehow failed to hit the target.

On 33 minutes ’Stute had to make a change when striker Darren McFadden, who picked up a knock after an earlier challenge by Colin Nixon, was replaced by Joe McCready

The Waterside men had a super chance to level things right at the start of the second half when substitute McCready’s pass released McCauley, but the midfielder fired over from just inside the box.

On 52 minutes the Glens got in behind the ’Stute back-line but McComb’s tame effort fell perfectly for team-mate David Howland, but from close range he fired well over.

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That missed chance came back to haunt the visitors as Paul Kee’s charges equalised on 61 minutes in fantastic fashion.

A Michael McCrudden cross was cleverly chested down by Stephen Parkhouse into McCauley’s path and the midfielder’s super left footed strike from the edge of the box fizzed past Morris into the net.

The Drumahoe out-fit doubled their lead three minutes later when this time McCready’s inch perfect pass over the Glens defence picked out McCrudden and he gleefully blasted the ball home from 10 yards, past an out-rushing Morris.

The Oval men came storming back for the equaliser and they hit the woodwork for a second time on 74 minutes, this time Murray’s close range shot, which had Gallagher beaten, hit the post, before Jarvis cleared the danger.

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Then on 92 minutes a long throw by Sean Ward into the penalty area wasn’t properly cleared by the home side and with his weaker left foot Kane steered the ball into the net, to break Institute supporters hearts.

The Glens missed a golden chance to regain the lead again before the dreaded penalties on 105 minutes when an unmarked Jim O’Hanlan somehow headed wide at the back post, after another goal mouth scramble.

Institute: Gallagher, Roddy, Crown, McLaughlin, Jarvis; McCauley, Walsh, McKeever; McCrudden, Parkhouse, McFadden. Subs: McCready for McFadden (35); Dougherty for Parkhouse (79); Carlyle for McCrudden (101).

Glentoran: Morris, Ward, Kane, Magee, Nixon, M Clarke, Howland, McAlorum, McComb, Elliott, Murray. Subs: O’Hanlon, McGuigan & R Clarke for McComb, Howland & McAlorum (70).

Referee: Mr Mark Courtney (Dungannon).

Cautioned: McFadden (24); McCrudden (72); McCready (84); M Clarke (108).