'Stute's play-off hopes in the balance after entertaining first leg at the Riverside

Institute 1

Carrick Rangers 1

Institute will travel to Carrick on Friday knowing exactly what they have to do after an entertaining draw in the first leg of their promotion play-off at the Riverside Stadium.

Kevin Deery's side were hoping to take a lead into the second leg and they looked to be on their way to that goal when Michael McCrudden gave them the lead with a sweet strike from just inside the penalty area on 42 minutes.

But the 'Stute celebrations were short-lived as Carrick were awarded a penalty just over a minute later with Niall Grace adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. Marty Murray equalised from the spot for the visitors.

'Stute went for the win in the second half but they closest they could come was when Sammy Morrow almost took advantage of a poor clearance by goalkeeper Brian Neeson, but his lobbed shot was just off target with the goalkeeper stranded.

With Carrick taking an away goal into the second leg, 'Stute will need to find the net to have any hope of promotion this Friday night.