’Stute striker back with a goalscoring bang

Institute's Graham Crown shields the ball from Welders striker John Cahoon. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye

The centre-back, who was playing along side experienced defender Paddy McLaughlin, was super throughout and his never say die attitude was summed up late on when he ran Usain Bolt style for about 10 yards before powerfully heading the ball back into Welders half.

The visitors had half a chance on two minutes when Darren McCauley’s right wing centre into the six yard box was flicked goalwards by Curran, but Welders keeper Michael Dougherty easily gathered.

Ten minutes before the break O’Flynn nearly capitalised on a defensive mistake by Philip Simpson, but the striker’s shot was kept out by Dougherty.

A Michael McCrudden’s resulting corner was drilled low towards the penalty spot to Aaron Walsh, but the midfielder failed to keep his shot down and blasted over.

Just before the break John Curran came to his side’s rescue when Michael Doherty mis judged Josh Cahoon’s cross, but the ’Stute centre-back got back to head the loose ball over his own crossbar.

On 49 minutes Ryan Deans missed the best chance of the match when the unmarked midfielder headed over from 12 yards.

The deadlock was broken on 52 minutes when Declan McKeever’s super cross field pass found Stephen Curry he laid the ball off to McCrudden, who skipped past a few challenges before seeing his shot from just inside the box parried away by Dougherty, but the alert O’Flynn was on hand to turn home the loose ball.

Institute went close to adding a second just after the hour mark by an out-rushing Dougherty did well to keep out Stephen Curry’s close range strike.

The home side in truth never really got into the game but in the closing stages they nearly nicked a point.

A long ball wasn’t cleared by the visitors and Scott Davidson broke into the ’Stute box, but his first time shot, which looked goal bound was tipped around the post by a full stretched Doherty.

Harland & Wolff Welders: Dougherty, Beattie, Armstrong (Cockcroft 62), Deans, McMurray, Simpson, Spence, Davidson, Magennis (Middleton 78), Cahoon, Harris. Subs: Dickson & Windrum (not used).

Institute: Doherty, Crown, P McLaughlin, Curran, McKeever; McCauley, Walsh, Henderson, Curry; McCrudden; O’Flynn. Subs: Hume, C McLaughlin, Varma, O’Donnell & Gallagher (not used).

Referee: Mr Ivan Boyce (Ballygowan).