'Stute lose basement battle

Ramsey (4 & 63 Pen)

Lisburn Distillery…(0) 3

Gawley (51);

Thompson (55 & 70)

IT really is squeaky bottom time for Institute following Saturday’s defeat to bottom club Lisburn Distillery.

The 3-2 defeat means the Whites are now just six points adrift of the Waterside men with only eight games remaining.

Worryingly for John Gregg his side failed to deliver when it really mattered even after Kevin Ramsey’s wonder strike gave them the perfect start at the weekend.

The Drumahoe club broke the deadlock after just four minutes when a long ball down field by Gavin Cullen was flicked on by Ramsey to his strike partner Joe McCready and his fortunate lay-off was fired home from 25 yards past a flat-footed Philip Mathews.

Neither side created much after that fantastic opening goal until 37 minutes when the visitors were unlucky not to equalise.

Glenn Ferguson’s clever lay-off found Peter McCann on the left hand edge of the ’Stute box, but the skipper’s super shot on the half-volley was spectacularly kept out by a full stretched Cullen.

Tommy Wright’s side did level things in somewhat fortunate circumstances on 51 minutes.

’Stute sub David McClements took too long to clear his lines while inside his own area and Neal Gawley won possession, before seeing his shot from 16 yards, come back off the post and hit Cullen in the back before rolling into the net.

Distillery went in front four minutes later when Ferguson’s initial two shots were firstly blocked by Eamonn Seydak and then saved by Cullen, but the ex-Linfield man showed some clever skill to back-heel the ball to substitute Gary Thompson who made no mistake from close range.

To their credit Institute drew level soon after from the penalty spot, after Ferguson handled Ruairi Boyle’s goal bound shot inside the six yard box and Ramsey made no mistake with the resulting effort from 12 yards, despite Mathews’ best efforts.

The Whites scored what turned out to be the winner on 71 minutes when more poor defending by ’Stute allowed Thompson to chest the ball down inside the area before firing home from 12 yards.

Institute were unlucky not to equalise seven minutes later when Sean Friars’ corner found Thomas Wray, but his glancing header, which had Mathews beaten was kept out by Pat McShane.

The former Linfield full-back came to his side’s rescue again on 83 minutes when a long ball down field wasn’t dealt with by Distillery, but Ramsey’s shot while on the stretch went through Mathews’ legs, however the left-back got back to boot the ball off the line.

Gregg’s side’s disappointing day was summed up in stoppage time when keeper Cullen was sent-off by referee Trevor Moutray after the keeper was adjudged to have handled the ball outside his area.

Institute: Cullen, Wray, Boyle, Ogilby, Seydak; Semple, Friars, Holmes, Divin; McCready, Ramsey. Subs: McClements for Semple (18); Lowry for McCready (73) Ryan for Clements (90); Crown (not used).

Lisburn Distillery: Mathews, Callaghan, Muir, Curran, McShane, Cooling, Kilmartin, Melaugh, McCann; Ferguson, Gawley. Subs: Thompson for Melaugh (14); Browne for Cooling (H-T); McDonald for Gawley (88); Patton & McAlinden (not used).

Referee: Mr Trevor Moutray (Dundonald).

Cautioned: Callaghan (32); Curran (61).

Sent-off: Cullen (90).