Under 15’s win relegation battle

INSTITUTE’S Under 15’s secured an important relegation win over fellow strugglers Glenavon, on Saturday.

Ian Harper’s lads ran out comfortable 5-0 victors over the Lurgan teenagers, with Dairmuid McDermott producing another super display at the heart of the ’Stute defence.

“Could somebody tell me how Dairmuid McDermott is not in the County Programme or Elite? He is an outstanding centre half and I don’t see better,” admitted Harper.

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Elsewhere Colin Colhoun’s Colts lost 3-0 at home to Crusaders, last Wednesday night, while on Saturday, the U10’s were defeated by Limavady, Ballymena United U13’s knocked the U13’s out of the Knock Out Cup, Limavady Youths U14’s had a 1-0 success over the U14’s, while the U11’s lost 2-1 to Newbuildings in a friendly.

This weekend the U11’s take on Newbuildings again in another friendly, the Under 13’s travel to Crusaders, the Under 14’s take on St Oliver Plunkett and the Under 19’s travel to Ballymoney United Colts.

Institute U11...1

Newbuildings U11...2

Institute and Newbuildings U11 played a friendly at Lisneal on Saturday and both teams started confidently and Newbuildings opened the score line with a great cross in from C Knight straight to C McIvor’s head and ’Stute’s keeper had no chance to save it as it was headed straight into the bottom corner.

’Stute put on the pressure and were awarded a free kick and G Simpson quickly took it and found J Craig from a back pass who slotted the ball in the net to level things.

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Newbuildings had another shot at goal but it was well saved by R Boyd.

Newbuildings scored what turned out to be the winner just before the break when they put in another good cross and the ’Stute defender slipped allowing Newbuildings C McIvor to put the ball in the back of the net.

After the interval Berry, Dougherty, Cloete and Pentland started working well together to keep pressure on Newbuildings.

G Simpson had a great solo run up the pitch but just lost his feet inside the box and the ball was cleared. Newbuildings had some great runs up the pitch, showing great passing and team-work to have another shot at goal but it went wide.

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’Stute’s W Cloete showed good strength in defence and made some good clearances and there was some good team work from R Gamble, M Cooke and L Pattie seen them denied any shots at goal.

M Cooke had a great solo run but his shot flew just wide. Newbuildings went on the attack again but missed a great chance to leave the score at 2-1 to Newbuildings at the final whistle.

J Molloy and J Arbuckle worked well together in the centre and ’Stute showed an improvement in their teamwork and confidence.

Newbuildings awarded player of the match to Caitlyn Berry and Institute awarded Cameron Knight their player of the match for his cross in to open the score line.

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Institute U11: R Boyd, W Cloete, C Berry, A Dougherty, A Pentland, J Molloy, R Gamble, M Cooke, G Simpson, J Arbuckle, J Craig, L Pattie.

Limavady United U14...1

Institute U14...0

Limavady United U14’s earned a hard fought 1-0 success on Saturday, they dominated the first half but were lucky to not concede in second half which ’Stute bossed.

It was a poor start by Institute as they concede a mere 60 seconds into the game after not closing down at the top of the box. Limavady continued to cause problems and Lamberton made some smart saves to keep the game tight.

’Stute changed formation at half to get more support to Kinkaid and it worked as the boys continually put the Limavady defence under pressure.

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The chances became more frequent as the half bore on, Deighan’s shot was blocked and narrowly deflected wide, Gamble’s rasping volley was well saved whilst other loose balls just didn’t seem to want to break ’Stute’s way in the second period.

Late in the game captain Killen pulled the ball down well but was unable to lift it over the keeper on his left foot.

Unfortunately for the Drumahoe side keeper Holland who has replaced Lamberton midway through the second half after he fell awkwardly following a save and broke his wrist.

In better news, recent injury victim Mark Ferguson was able to attend the game on crutches and support his team mates.

Institute U15...5

Glenavon U15...0

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Institute U15’s hosted Glenavon on Saturday at Bready in the National League, Section A.

It was a must win for both sides if they wished to remain amongst the best 12 teams in Northern Ireland boys football.

Both sides battled hard, as would be expected, in the opening 10 minutes with very little in the line of chances.

But as the game settled ’Stute found their passing game and went one up after 15 minutes when a lovely through ball found the feet of Matthew Lynch who slotted home.

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Glenavon had an excellent chance to equalise after good play out wide only for the striker to fire wide from close range.

Just before the break Kyle McGonigle linked with Stevie Connor to play in Tommy Lee Deighan who was denied by the Lurgan keeper.

The second half was full of strong tackles, good football and two honest teams playing for survival, a place in Section A at stake. The home side went 2-0 ahead when Cameron Hancock threaded a pass through the Glenavon defence to find Cory Hill who finished in style.

This eased ’Stute’s nerves and they kept the ball better in the final 20 minutes, Matthew Lynch scored twice in 10 minutes for a well deserved hat-trick after a superb performance.

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Gartside saved from a shot outside the box to keep a clean sheet for him and a solid defence of Deighan, Spratt, McDermott and McGonigle. Stute made it 5-0 when Reece Adair tapped home after good work from Craig Holmes.

Coach Andy Stevenson said it was an outstanding team performance from the full squad, not only to achieve a result but to play in a style they did.

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