NIFL Reserve League
Cliftonville Olympic 4 Institute II’s 2
16 August 2014
After a fairly tame opening period this game erupted with a flurry of goals in a hectic fifteen minute period which saw the ball hit the back of the net an incredible six times.
Cliftonville almost had the perfect start when a curled effort rattled a post after only 2 minutes as the visitors struggled with the pace and movement of a lively ‘reds’ attack. It took a good ten minutes before Stute found their feet and from that point both teams traded blows in an entertaining game. Most of the play was compressed in the middle third of the pitch with the home side posing the greater threat on goal until Stute finally threatened at the other, Ryan Varma letting fly from distance forcing the keeper to gather at full stretch after 35 minutes. Three minutes later Ricky-Lee Dougherty showed good strength to turn the defender before unleashing an effort himself which flashed over. The visitors were enjoying a bright spell and really should have taken the lead minutes before the break when Lee Toland broke down the left but his pinpoint cross was glanced wide by Dougherty from close range.
Ten minutes into the second period Toland crashed a great free-kick off the crossbar after Gary Henderson had been upended on the edge of the box and four minutes later, from similar distance, another effort crept past the post with the keeper beaten. Cliftonville quickly raced up the other end and Martin Gallagher made a smart save when left one-on-one with an attacker. Unfortunately he could not repeat the feat a minute later as the ‘reds’ striker broke clear again and this time his effort nestled in the bottom corner. Three minutes later they doubled their lead with another good move down the left resulting in a fine cross and the ball was turned home from six yards. Immediately Stute pulled a goal back after Dougherty won possession on the half-way line, brushed off a defender, and cooly slotted the ball into the bottom corner from just outside the penalty area. The home side restored their two goal advantage on 69 minutes when a shot from distance took a wicked deflection off defender John Curran which left Gallagher wrong footed and helpless as the ball sneaked inside his near post. Cliftonville soon made it 4-1 after poor marking from a corner saw the ball headed back across goal before being bundled home. To their credit Stute refused to give up a gained some hope in the 75th minute when Henderson’s pass set Aaron Porter clear and the youngster showed great composure to lift the ball over the keepers head and into the far corner, despite the last ditch attempt of a defender to clear. Mark McGroarty almost set up a grandstand finish but, after a fine solo run, his effort brushed the wrong side of the upright.
The Stute boys were outdone by a strong and physical Olympic side but battled gamely and, on another day, could easily have brought home a share of the points.
Institute II’s: Gallagher, McGroarty, Toland, Curran, C McLaughlin, Henderson, Varma, Crawford, Dougherty, Porter, Hume. Subs. Armstrong, Higgins, Duffy.
