'Stute face relegation

INSTITUTE are lying last in the table and for many, it is a question of where did it all go wrong?

At one point 'Stute had a double figures points lead over the team who finished above them, Lisburn Distillery. Bearing in mind 'Stute made it to the semi finals of the cup last season, many people will be scratching their heads at the poor form of John Gregg's side.

Friday's result against Coleraine, a 1-1 draw at home, means the Drumahoe men finish bottom of the Carling Premiership and their only hope of staying up, is for Donegal Celtic to finish runners up in the Championship, so 'Stute get the chance of a playoff.

The team simply has not been good enough and the old clich that the league table does not lie rings true.

To be seven points behind the Whites, who have a game in hand, from a position where they held a points lead in double figures is, to state the obvious, relegation form. While it is true that Institute lost players from last season's more successful team, the reality is stark - they are staring down the barrel of the Ladbrokes Championship One.

In the game itself, the Waterside enjoyed a promising start, scoring with only two minutes on the clock.

Coleraine struggled to clear an Institute corner taken by Ryan Semple and it was headed across goal by Thomas Wray for Paddy McLaughlin to nod the opener.

Coleraine looked menacing and eventually got their reward. Stephen Lowry played a killer pass to Patterson, who flicked on for Gareth Tommons to control the ball with his chest and slot past Gavin Cullen for the equaliser.

The visitors were reduced to ten men when forward Darren Boyce was given his marching orders by David Malcom for losing his cool with the referee. His rage was directed at Malcom's failure to award his side a free kick.

Institute went close to claiming all three points in the closing stages but Declan Divin fired wide, while right at the death Davy O'Hare made a super save to keep out McLaughlin's goalbound header.

Institute: Cullen, Wray, McLaughlin, Ogilby, Holmes; Semple, McClean, Boyle, Friars; Divin, McCready. Subs: Lowry for Friars (77); Crown, Smith, Ryan & Blackburn (not used).

Coleraine: O'Hare, Canning, Beverland, Harkin, McLaughlin, Hegarty, McCallion, Tommons, Boyce, Patterson, Lowry. Subs: McVey for Lowry (77); Millar for Beverland (86); McCormick, Patton & Quinn (not used).

Referee: David Malcolm (Bangor).