FOOTBALL: Curry brace gives '˜Stute victory over 10 man Loughgall

Loughgall 1, Institute 2
Institute winger Stephen Curry scored a brace of goals in the club's 2-1 win at Loughgall.Institute winger Stephen Curry scored a brace of goals in the club's 2-1 win at Loughgall.
Institute winger Stephen Curry scored a brace of goals in the club's 2-1 win at Loughgall.

A second half brace from Stephen Curry ensured Institute picked up another three points on the road, this time at Loughgall.

The talented winger showed great composure for both goals, but it was the visitors’ all round display which meant they deservedly picked up the win.

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While Curry and other attack minded players have been grabbing all the headlines, it was goalkeeper Marty Gallagher and the back-line of Gareth McFadden, Darryl McDermott, Mark Scoltock and Stephen O’Donnell, who also deserve a special mention.

The defence stood tall through out, while Gallagher played his part in the opening goal and also made a top draw save in the closing stages to seal the win.

Institute had the first real effort at goal on 12 minutes but Sean McCarron’s stinging 25 yard drive, which had keeper Gareth Buchanan beaten, rattled the crossbar.

Just after the mid-way point of half, winger Peter Campbell skipped clear down the left before laying the ball off to ex-Stute striker Warner Mullen, but he blasted over from just inside the box.

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Moments later a super run from left to right across the Loughgall penalty box by Jamie McIntyre ended with is pass finding Michael McCruden, but the midfielder’s shot from the edge of the box flashed inches wide.

On 31 minutes a miss placed pass by Scoltock only found Mark McConnell on the edge of the Stute box, he in turn feed Mullen, but the striker somehow shot wide with only Stute keeper Marty Gallagher to beat.

Right on the stroke of half-time Stephen Curry’s right wing cross could only be flapped away by Buchanan straight to McIntyre, who side footed the ball back to an unmarked Michael McCrudden, but his tame strike from 12 yards, which had beaten defender Richard Copeland on the line, flashed inches wide.

Institute took the lead on 51 minutes thanks to a flowing move, which started with Gallagher’s quick thinking.

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The goalkeeper’s quick throw out found Ciaron Harkin and a few passes later the ball found Curry, who gleefully made no mistake firing home past Buchanan.

The lead didn’t last too long as Loughgall levelled things on 65 minutes as substitute Jack Uprichard saw his left wing corner find Copeland and he out-jumped O’Donnell to head home from close range.

Five minutes later Curry grabbed, what turned out to be the winner, as his stinging 25 yard drive, flew into Buchanan’s bottom right hand corner.

On 82 minutes Curry should have completed his hat-trick, after McCrudden played him through, but with only Buchanan to beat, he dragged his shot wide of the target.

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In the closing stages Loughgall pushed forward in search of an equaliser and the hit the woodwork themselves on 85 minutes but Campbell’s cross-cum-shot clipped the bar.

On 89 minutes, Gallagher had to make a top draw save diving low to left to keep out Andy Devlin’s close range side footed strike.

In stoppage time the home side were harshly reduced to ten men as centre-back Chris Elliott was sent-off for bringing down Stute substitute Ryan Doherty.

Loughgall: Buchanan, Devlin, Taylor (Mallon 89), Copeland, Elliott, McCann (Ja Uprichard 53), Dallas, Canning, McConnell (Jo Uprichard 81), Mullen, Campbell.

Institute: Gallagher, O’Donnell, Scoltock, McDermott, McFadden; A Harkin, C Harkin, McCrudden; S Curry (Roddy 90), McCarron (Pomeroy 73), McIntyre (Doherty 71).

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