Teenagers secure a point

Coleraine U16...3

Institute U16...3

INSTITUTE’S Under 16 side travelled to Coleraine for their North West Coleraine and District Youth League encounter, which turned out to be a tightly contested affair.

The Waterside men started off with some good football being played down the left wing where Caolan O’Neill was stationed, and it was nip and tuck for the first 15 minutes but the deadlock was broken. The ball was played into Eamonn Brown who took on two Coleraine players before expertly placing the ball across the goal mouth beyond the keeper’s reach, leaving the new debutant Eamonn Deehan to tap home from two yards out, to put the visitors one up.

O’Neill then took a knock and had to be replaced by new boy Damian Kavanagh: almost immediately after kick off Coleraine collected the ball and carried it towards the ‘Stute goal with no pressure being applied by the visitors, resulting in a looping shot from outside the 18 yard box, which left keeper Glen O’Hara back pedalling to no avail, to see the ball just dip below the bar to level the score.

The battle continued with the central defence of Jordan Watson and Zach Hamilton holding firm. Just before the half time break Coleraine were awarded a corner, which was hit high into the box, where a Coleraine player jump unchallenged to head home at the far post giving Coleraine a 2-1 lead going into the break.

After a stern team talk, the second half started off well for ’Stute with Aaron McCormack and Jack McConoway dominating the centre of midfield, winning free kicks and picking up all the loose balls and dispersing them with ease. This led to the equaliser. Jack McConoway picked the ball up on the edge of the box, and drove a thunderous shot past the Coleraine net minder to bring the teams level at 2-2.

Coleraine then broke down the right wing and crossed into the ’Stute box, and the ball fell to a Coleraine player who was standing unmarked inside the 18 yard box to put the home side 3-2 up.

’Stute continued to press for the last 10 minutes with Shane Porter left back and Barry Doherty, at right back, delivering some well hit passes to the two strikers, Chris McCarter and Jordan O’Keefe.

Both these players were causing the Coleraine defence all sorts of problems with their pace This pressure resulted in ’Stute getting a well deserved equaliser through the hard work of the team captain Jordan Watson, who battled hard with the Coleraine defence to slip the ball past the Coleraine keeper to leave the score 3-3 going into the final whistle.

Institute U16: Glenn O’Hara, Barry Doherty, Shane Porter, Zach Hamilton, Jordan Watson, Caolan O’Neill, Aaron McCormack, Jack McConoway, Eamon Deehan, Chris McCarter, Eamonn Brown, Jordan O’Keefe, Damian Kavanagh.