'Stute back to winning ways

WHAT a significant result this may be in Institute's entire season.

Going into tonight's (Tuesday) match the Drumahoe club had suffered six straight Carling Premiership defeats, but two goals in the first half from Ryan Semple and David Ogilby and although Trevor Molloy pulled one back for Glenavon in the closing stages, 'Stute deservedly held on for the victory.

The visitors were unlucky not to break the deadlock as early as the fourth minute when a defensive mistake from Hugh Davey let in Semple, but his drive was kept out Glenavon keeper Andrew Plummer.

'Stute did race into the lead on eight minutes when Davey lost possession to Semple again, this time the ex-Linfield man made no mistake firing low past a hapless Plummer in the home side's goal.

Institute doubled their advantage ten minutes later when Sean Friars' corner was headed onto the post by Paddy McLaughlin and the alert Ogilby was on hand to turn the loose ball home.

Minutes later Joe McCready was unlucky not to fire home a third as the visitors continued to press forward, but the striker's well hit effort was saved by Plummer.

Just before the break James Costello nipped in front of McLaughlin but his low angled drive from the edge of the area was well kept out by Gavin Cullen.

After a half-time dressing down from Marty Quinn his side started the second half on the front foot and they were unlucky not to pull one back on 62 minutes when Molloy's shot was parried by Cullen, but fortunately for the keeper the ball spun away from Costello with the goal at his mercy.

A super Semple cross on 73 minutes found Friars but his close range diving header was somehow kept out by the alert Plummer.

Soon after Stuart King's corner found Mark Haughey but his goal bound header came back off the woodwork.

Glenavon did pull one back in the 82nd minute in fortunate circumstances when Molloy's curling shot somehow bounced over the unfortunate Cullen and rolled into the net.

The visitors missed a glorious chance to wrap the points up four minutes from time when a long ball released substitute Paul Lowry, but Plummer saved his first effort and he failed to hit the target with his follow-up shot.

Right at the death Costello missed a glorious chance to level things but from 14 yards and with Cullen to beat, he blazed over the bar.

Glenavon: Plummer, Davey, McDonagh, Haughey, Shannon, Molloy, Harpur, Johnston, King, Costello, Hamill. Subs: Murray for Davey (61); Liggett for Johnston (65); Carvill for King (77); Campbell & Gracey (not used).

Institute: Cullen, Crown, McLaughlin, Ogilby, Holmes; Semple, Shields, Boyle, Friars; McCready, Divin. Subs: Lowry for McCready (79), McClements, Blackburn & Ryan (not used).

Referee: Simon Creaney (Newtownards).