INSTITUTE: Drumahoe men draw a blank

Stute in truth played some neat and tidy football but their final ball in the attacking third of the pitch is what let them down.

For all the possession the home side never really tested ex-Stute goalkeeper Corey Wilson, in fact the visitors’ Andrew Sproule, another former Drumahoe man, missed probably the best chance of the game in the first half.

The Drumahoe side made six changes to their side which narrowly defeated Newington on Saturday.

In came Marty Gallagher, Sean Roddy, Mark Scoltock, Michael McCrudden, Aaron Harkin and Niall Grace and those changes did make a difference as they started with a better tempo to their game, in fact they missed a glorious opportunity early on.

On four minutes a super passing move with Aaron Harkin at the heart of it should have resulted in the opening goal.

The midfielder played a neat one-two with his namesake Ciaron before his defence splitting pass released Jamie McIntyre, but the winger’s chipped effort from the right hand side of the box over the out-rushing Wilson, flashed just wide.

Dergview were inches away breaking the deadlock on 15 minutes but Lee Warnock’s close range header from Jude Ballard’s ring wing corner was cleared off the line by the alert Jamie Dunne.

Minutes later a Sean Roddy free-kick was whipped into the near post from the right, but centre-back Stephen O’Donnell headed over.

Soon after Dergview missed a clear cut chance when Andrew Sproule easily skipped away from Ciaron Harkin on the edge of the box, but with only Gallagher to beat, he failed to hit the target and fired wide from 10 yards.

Just before the break McCrudden should have done better when Jamie Dunne’s left wing deep cross found the ex-Ballinamallard United man at the back post, but instead of shooting he tried to cut the ball back and Wilson easily gathered.

On 66 minutes McCrudden was inches away from scoring but his 20 yard drive took a slight deflection on the way through and fizzed just wide.

Institute who were more dominating in the second half should have won it ten minutes from time when McIntyre’s cross on the run found Stephen Mills, but with the goal at his mercy, the striker fired wide.

Institute: Gallagher, Roddy, O’Donnell, Scoltock, Dunne; A Harkin (McMenamin 88), Grace, C Harkin; McCrudden, Mills, McIntyre.


Dergview: Wilson, Porter, Ballard, Warnock, Robinson, Burns, Arkinson, Buchanan, Edgar (79), Sproule, Cashel.


Referee: Mr Graham McIlwrath