’Stute ease into next round

The Drumahoe club were always in control and like on so many occasions this campaign, they should have won by a far bigger margin, as their domination should have resulted in more goals.

The home side took the lead on six minutes after a goalkeeping error by Paul Wells.

The United keeper picked up Karl Steele’s back-pass inside the box and referee Danny Colton rightfully awarded a free-kick, which Dean Jarvis touched to Michael McCrudden, and he impressively blasted the ball high into the net past a host of United defenders.

On 21 minutes a teasing left wing centre by Jarvis found substitute Robbie Hume, who replaced McCrudden moments earlier, and with his first touch his attempted volley from inside the box was saved by Wells.

Institute missed a golden chance just after the half-hour mark when Ryan Semple’s left wing cross found an unmarked Declan McKeever, but the midfielder’s close range header was easily gathered by Wells.

Paul Kee’s side started the second half the way they finished the first, on the front foot and they went close to adding a second on the hour mark but Darren McCauley’s drive from an acute angle was kept out by Wells.

McCauley was in the thick of the action soon after when his pass found Hume and the substitute outstandingly curled the ball past a full stretched Wells.

To their credit Jim Scott’s side went straight up the other end and nearly pulled one back but Ryan Doherty’s powerful header which had ’Stute keeper Marty Gallagher well beaten, came crashing back off the bar.

Moments later Wells came to his side’s rescue again, this time he denied Hume a second goal of the game, but soon after the United shot-stopper should have been beaten.

Some great play by the always lively Corey Hegarty set-up McCauley and when it looked easier to score the midfielder somehow failed to hit the target.

In the closing stages McCauley continued in his battle to get himself on the score-sheet, but after a tremendous run into the United penalty box the Waterside man was denied by Wells.

Institute: Gallagher, Gray, Crown, McLaughlin, Jarvis; McCauley, Walsh, McKeever; Semple, Hegarty, McCrudden. Subs: Hume for McCrudden (19); Coyle & Crawford for McKeever & Semple (81); Taylor & Wilson (not used).

Tobermore United: Wells, Forgrave, Winton, Donaldson, Neill, McClements, Steele, Heneghan, Lamont, Gardener, Doherty. Subs: Lynch for Donaldson (59); McCauley for Heneghan (59).

Referee: Danny Colton (Dromore).