Stute Reserves get knocked out at semi-final stage

Gary Simpson’s men were always in control and deserved to book their place in the Boxing Day final, as Colin Colhoun’s under strength side were second best throughout.

After the visitors started on the front foot it was the home side who had the first chance on five minutes but Jamie Dunne’s close range header over Ardstraw goalkeeper Andrew Gailey, sailed just wide.

A tremendous Lee Toland cross on 15 minutes picked out an unmarked Jordan Thompson, but he couldn’t keep his close range header down.

Ardstraw went straight up the other end of the pitch and missed a glorious chance to take the lead when Samuel McKelvey dragged his shot wide with only Marty Gallagher to beat.

Soon after Shay Duffy’s right wing centre found Thompson, but the unmarked striker saw his header from six yards hit the bar.

The deadlock was broken on 30 minutes when a well worked corner rountine ended with McKelvey’s left wing cross finding Kenny Williamson and he headed home past Gallagher.

In what was a disappointing second half it was Ardstraw who went close to adding a second when some super skill by Derek Matthews saw the big striker skip through a few challenges, but his left footed strike from 10 yards was saved by Gallagher.

Moments later a Toland free-kick from the edge of the box, which had Gailey beaten, flew inches over the bar.

The cup tie was ended on 80 minutes as the visitors grabbed a second when Matthews made no mistake powerfully heading home from six yards, after Darren Boyd’s right wing cross had picked him out.

Institute Res: Gallagher, Duffy, Toland, Curran, Connolly, Crawford, Dunne, Doherty, Thompson, Porter, McVeigh. Subs: Clifford, Forbes.
Ardstraw: Gailey, D Boyd, N Boyd, Fusco, Warnock, P Lowry, A Lowry, Campbell, De Matthews, McKelvey, Williamson. Subs: Boyle, Long, Stewart, Da Matthews.

Referee: Mr Niall Gallagher.