Frantic finale as Institute salvage point from Warrenpoint Town test

A frantic finale ensured Institute battled hard for a deserved point at fellow strugglers Warrenpoint Town in a 2-2 draw, writes Kevin McLaughlin.

Gavin Smith’s own goal ensured the Drumahoe men picked up a share of the spoils after a super second-half display.

Sean Connor’s men upped their game after the break after trailing to Alan O’Sullivan’s opening goal.

The never-say-die attitude by the Waterside men ensured they still sit two points behind Town.

Institute keeper Rory Brown had to make a big save on 45 seconds, diving low to his right to keep out O’Sullivan.

Town took the lead on 19 minutes as Brandon Doyle raced clear down the left before seeing his low cross finding O’Sullivan and his close-range strike took a deflection off Dean Curry on its way past Brown.

The woodwork came to ’Stute’s rescue 10 minutes later as Ryan Swan cleverly set-up Kealan Dillon, but his well-hit drive rattled the crossbar.

A James Henry corner on 35 minutes found Curry, but the big centre-back’s close-range header was saved on the line by Town keeper Gareth Buchanan.

The visitors drew level 43 minutes after Tweed’s superb right-wing centre was misjudged by Danny Wallace and the alert Ahu Obhakhan made no mistake.

Buchanan made fantastic stops to deny Tweed, with the latter then clearing a Wallace header off his own line.

Brown made a stunning save on 75 minutes off Dillon’s sublime long-range strike.

Alex Pomeroy then rounded the out-rushing Buchanan but the substitute’s effort into the unguarded net hit the side-netting.

Town scored on 84 minutes after a fantastic counter-attack which saw captain Wallace break out of defence before feeding Swan down the right and his cross was outstandingly guided home by the big Town skipper.

To their credit, the visitors levelled for a second time six minutes later as Conor Tourish’s effort was kicked into his own net by Smith.

Warrenpoint Town: Buchanan, Bennett (Scannell, 46), McVeigh, O’Sullivan, Doyle (Carroll, 65), Hutchinson (Smith, 14), Wallace, Dillon, Mullen, Deasy, Swan.

Subs (not used): M.Lynch, Watters, O’Kane, Sava

Institute: R.Brown, Doherty, Tourish, D.Curry, Brogan (De Carne, 88), McLaughlin, Tweed, Henry, Walsh (G.Brown, 51) Burke, Obhakhan (Pomeroy, 71)

Subs (not used): McCann, Crown, McCauley, Morrow

Referee: Andrew Davey