Late Allen goal denies Stute the points

Thomas McBride’s second goal of the season gave the home side the lead at the break, but a stupid decision by Mark Scoltock resulted in the centre-back getting sent-off early in the second half and in the end his rash decision cost his side the victory, as the ten men couldn’t hold onto their advantage.

Institute suffered an injury set-back in the warm up as in-form striker Darren McFadden picked up a ankle problem and he had to drop to the bench, with Robbie Hume replacing him.

Glentoran started on the front foot and went close to taking a first minute lead but Stephen O’Flynn did well to head clear while under pressure virtually on top of his own goal-line by Calum Birney, after David Scullion’s cross from a corner routine caused problems in the Stute box.

Moments later a neat pass by Hume found O’Flynn just inside the visitor’s box but the striker’s low drive was well saved by a fully stretched Glen’s keeper Aaron Hogg.

Glentoran went close to breaking the deadlock on 22 minutes but Jordan Stewart’s close range effort from Marcus Kane’s cut-back clipped the post and flew wide.

Institute took the lead on 31 minutes after a goalkeeping error by Hogg.

A fantastic cross on the run by Stephen Curry found McBride and the midfielder’s diving header from eight yards somehow sneaked underneath the Glens net-minder.

Paul Kee’s side were denied a second just before the break when Hume’s close range header, after the Glens failed to clear the lines properly, clipped the top of the bar.

Institute’s day got harder on 53 minutes as they were reduced to ten men after Scoltock was dismissed by referee Ross Dunlop after an off the ball incident with Birney inside their penalty box.

Soon after Glentoran missed a golden chance to level things but David Howland’s close range header flew well off target after Stewart’s cross had picked the midfielder out.

The Belfast men did level things on 85 minutes when a long throw-in by Johnny Addis wasn’t cleared by ’Stute and the alert Allen was on hand to fire home past Ferry.

On 88 minutes Glens substitute Willie Garrett had a close range header rattled the crossbar as Eddie Patterson’s side tried to claim the points.

Incredibly right at the death the ten men should have won it when a super lung busting run by Stephen Curry ended with his cut-back finding an in-rushing McBride, but the midfielder blasted over from just inside the box.

Institute: Ferry, McLaughlin, Scoltock, Crown; Curry, McBride, Walsh, McManus (Ballard 69), McKeever; Hume (O’Donnell 57), O’Flynn.

Glentoran: Hogg, Henderson (McKee 73), Birney, Addis, Kane; Howland, McCaffrey (Garrett 62), McAlorum, Scullion (O’Hanlon 73); Allen, Stewart.

Referee: Mr Ross Dunlop (Carrickfergus).