Mark Mbuli double ensures opening day victory for Kevin Deery and Institute

Institute 2

Knockbreda 0

Kevin Deery insisted the most important thing was the three points as Institute began the new season with a deserved win over Knockbreda at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Two goals from Mark Mbuli got the job done for a new-look ‘Stute, who had several debutants on the pitch also, on a day when Deery also returned to the sidelines as a manager for the first time since 2017.

“It was a good start,” he said afterwards. “The clean sheet was very rewarding because I don’t think we managed to keep too many of them in the pre-season friendlies. We did have to dig in at times. We know what this Championship is about. It’s not always going to be pretty and it was a dry pitch today for us. We played some good football at times, but we understand that sometimes it’s difficult to move the ball on this pitch.”

‘Stute had several chances to score in a dominant first half, but they finally got off the mark with Mbuli finding the net twice in the second period to seal the win. The home side also struck the post and bar and were rarely troubled at the other end.

“I don’t know how clinical we are going to be this season, because we are young,” Deery added. “There were three or four players there who were playing their first senior game, but it wasn’t for the want of trying and getting into the right areas. The composure will come; the big thing for me was creating that number of chances, especially how clear cut they were. But we created the chances, and we got the three points which is the most important thing.”

A good crowd was on hand to watch Deery’s first game back in charge and they thought the home side had the perfect start to the new season just 10 minutes in when they had the ball in the net. A well-worked corner routine saw the ball played to the edge of the area where Liam Mullan took aim, and while his effort wasn’t cleanly hit, it had enough on it to fall at the feet of Dylan King, who directed it into the net from close range. Kevin Deery and the ‘Stute players were allowed a moment of celebration before the referee’s assistant belatedly raised the flag for offside.

Midfielder Liam Mullan, on loan from Derry City, began to show his ability on the ball and his quick thinking almost set up a goal for Michael Harris on 18 minutes, his pass in behind perfect for the striker, who slammed a shot against the outside of the post.

‘Stute needed a massive save from Dylan Doherty to stay level on 25 minutes however. Knockbreda’s first real attack saw Lee McGreevy get the ball caught under his feet in a good position, but the ball fell to Eoin Teggart at the back post and he had no such problem with his control, volleying the ball at goal, only for Doherty to make himself big to block the shot.

That was a rare attack from the visitors, but the main action was at the other end of the pitch, and another chance came and went for ‘Stute. Sean Carlin set up Mullan, who did everything right, setting himself up, only to blaze over the bar when he just had to pick his spot.

Half Time 0-0

The home side didn’t have long to wait as they finally made one count seven minutes into the second half. It was simplicity itself for ‘Stute as Tiarnan McKinney’s free kick was met with a glancing header by Mbuli, and Nicholl’s hand wasn’t strong enough as the ball found the bottom corner of the net.

On 78 minutes, Deery sent on Sean McCarron and the striker had an instant impact. Controlling the ball with his first touch, he sent Harris tearing away down the right, and the striker raced all the way into the penalty area before rolling it across goal, presenting MbUli with an easy second goal to give ‘Stute some vital breathing space.

A third goal would not have flattered ‘Stute and it almost came on 84 minutes when Orrin McLaughlin’s free kick was met with a towering header by Sean Leppard, but the ball crashed back off the crossbar, the second time that ‘Stute had struck the frame of the goal.

Teams

INSTITUTE: Doherty, Morrow, Leppard, King, Boyle, McLaughlin, Mullan (McLaughlin 85’), Mbuli, McKinney (McCarron 78’), Carlin (Tweed 66’), Harris (McCormick 85’).

KNOCKBREDA: Nicholl, Bradshaw (Shaw 77’), McVeigh (Murray 66’), Smith, Anderson, Kalla, Clarke (Henry 66’), McDermott (Stewart 77’), Rutkuwski, McGreevy, (McDermott 66’).

REFEREE: Diarmuid Harrigan.