Three off as 'Stute lose again

INSTITUTE'S terrible run continued tonight (Tuesday) when they lost their third Carling Premiership game in a row this time to Crusaders.

To compound matters bottom club Lisburn Distillery closed the gap between themselves and 'Stute to just three points, after they had another impressive away win at Portadown.

More worryingly for boss John Gregg will be the fact that poor discipline could come back to haunt his side, as the season starts to come to an end.

Last night the Waterside men had another two men sent-off – Kevin Ramsey and Thomas Wray – their fourth in just three games.

With Gavin Cullen missing through suspension, Alan Ryan was given the number one jersey and he kept his side in the game on 19 minutes, tipping over David McMaster's close range header, after Martin Donnelly's cross had picked out the impressive winger.

Institute went close themselves to breaking the deadlock ten minutes later when Shaun Holmes' cross was headed towards his own goal by Eamon Doherty, but fortunately for the ex-Derry City skipper, a diving Chris Keenan kept the ball out.

Stephen Baxter's side did get their noses in front on 32 minutes when McMaster nipped in behind 'Stute left-back Eamonn Seydak and blasted home after Stephen McBride's initial shot fell kindly for him.

To their credit the home side levelled things seven minutes later in somewhat fortunate circumstances.

Holmes' teasing free-kick into the Crusaders six yard box was headed goal wards by David Ogilby, but the ball flicked off the unfortunate Jordan Owens and trickled past Keenan.

Ramsey missed a golden opportunity to give his side the lead just before the break when Declan Divin's left wing cross found the striker, but with only Keenan to beat he headed over from close range.

The crossbar came to the Drumahoe club's rescue in the 58th minute when the always dangerous Donnelly got away from Ruairi Boyle, but his curling left foot shot from just outside the box, which had Ryan beaten, thumped the woodwork.

Crues did regain the lead four minutes later when Doherty volleyed home from six yards after he initially controlled Ross Arthur's clever knock down.

Institute's miserable night got worst on 72 minutes when Ramsey was shown a straight red card after the referee's assistant spotted him tussling with Doherty off the ball, on the half-way line.

The red cards weren't finished there as both sides had a man sent-off in the closing stages, when Thomas Wray and Crues substitute Aaron Black were given their marching orders after they too clashed.

Then in stoppage time Donnelly easily won possession from Institute sub Jason Blackburn 20 yards from goal and raced into the area before slotting the ball underneath the out-rushing Ryan.

Institute: Ryan, Wray, Boyle, Ogilby, Seydak; McClements, Shields, McClean, Holmes; Divin, Ramsey. Subs: McCready for McClean (34); Blackburn for Clements (63); Friars for Shields (74); McFadden & Porter (not used)

Crusaders: Keenan, McKeown, Magowan, Gibson, McBride; McMaster, Doherty, McCann, Donnelly; Owens, Arthur. Subs: Black for Arthur (74); Rainey for Owens (92); Caddell, Faulkner & Hogg (not used).

Referee: Mr Raymond Crangle (Belfast).

Cautioned: Seydak (60); Ramsey (48).

Sent-off: Ramsey (72); Black (87); Wray (87).