Institute fail to punish title chasing H&W Welders

Institute 1 ... H&W Welders 1

Not for the first time this season Institute failed to take a golden chance to claim all three points, this time they missed a host of chances against title chasing H&W Welders, at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Kevin Deery’s side in truth should have been two or three goals in front at the back, but they lacked composure and failed to pick out the right pass when confronted with Welders goalkeeper Jack Mills.

Stute created the first opening on 15 minutes as Oisin Duffy got in behind the Welders defence, which again was playing a high-line, but to his credit Ewan McCoubrey raced back and put in a crucial block to keep out the front-man’s close range strike.

The woodwork came to the visitors' rescue a minute later as Conor Quigley’s goal-bound shot, which sailed over Welders shot-stopper Mills, was headed against the crossbar by Lewis Patterson.

The Waterside men missed another chance just on the half-hour mark as Callum McCay raced in behind down the left, but after having all the time in the world the big midfielder with his weaker left foot, blasted wide from a tight angle.

Moments later Mikhail Kennedy missed a sitter as the striker when with only Mills to beat he blasted over from close range, after Lynch’s initial shot was fallen perfectly to him inside the box.

Title chasing Welders created their first opening on 37 minutes but in-form striker Michael McLellan saw his glancing header from McCoubrey’s centre sail straight into Fintan Doherty’s hands.

Institute suffered an injury set-back just before the break with midfielder Cormac Burke hubbling off after what looked like a serious quad problem and he was replaced by Brendan Barr.

SECOND HALF

The home side had to make another change at half-time with Kennedy being replaced by Aidan Hegarty, after the striker failed to recover from a facial injury, he picked up in the first half.

Duffy again raced in behind the Welders back-line early in the second half, but the big striker failed to test Mills and his shot while on the slide was off target.

The woodwork denied Stute for a second time on 49 minutes as Mills was caught in no mans land and could only watch Padraig Lynch’s goal-bound effort sail over his head and clipped the crossbar.

Lewis Patterson of HW Welders is tackled by Institute’s Callum McCay.

As expected the Belfast men totally against the run of play took the lead when Doherty could only parry away Liam Mullan’s initial shot and the alert McLellan was on hand to nod the rebound.

McLellan should have doubled the visitors the lead after the hour mark when Joshua Kee’s left wing centre found the front-man, but his left footed strike from close range, which was goal-bound, was blocked by Shane Boyle.

Institute deservedly levelled things on 75 minutes as substitute Barr released fellow sub Gabriel Aduaka and the striker raced clear from the half-way line and slotted the ball home despite Mills getting a touch on effort.

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The home side thought they had won it in stoppage time when Aduaka’s glancing header from Stephen Doherty’s free-kick flew past Mills, but their celebrations were caught short as the assistant had his flag up and the goal was chalked off for offside.

Institute: Fintan Doherty, Dean Brown, Brandon Diau, Shane Boyle, Conor Quigley; Cormac Burke (Brendan Barr 45), Stephen Doherty, Callum McCay (Brendan McLaughlin 67); Padraig Lynch (Evan Tweed 82), Mikhail Kennedy (Aidan Hegarty HT), Oisin Duffy (Gabriel Aduaka 67).

H&W Welders: Jack Mills, Lewis Patterson, James McCarthy (Craig Harris 58), Oran O’Kane, Joshua Kee, Ewan McCoubrey, Daylen Farren, Daniel Kearns, James McClay (Salou Jallow 80), Liam Mullan, Michael McLellan (David Parkhouse 80).

Referee: Mark Dillon.