Newry City 3-1 Institute FC

Newry City maintained their good run of form with a solid win over table toppers Institute at The Showground’s on Saturday. Having started the game on the front foot the home side found themselves a goal down after 11 minutes, Jamie Dunn finding space inside the Newry box to side foot the ball home with a neat finish. It was almost two for the visitors minutes later, Warner Mullen cutting in from the right wing before drilling a low shot across Steven Maguire, the Newry keeper diving low to deflect the ball for a corner.

Newry were denied what looked like a good shout for a penalty after 27 minutes when Aaron Jarvis appeared to handle a cross ball near the penalty spot, referee N Robinson waving away the Newry appeals. Momentum swung in Newry’s favour on 33 minutes when Caoimhan Bonnar head butted the back of Newry striker Keith Johnstons head, straight in front of referee assistant J McCord, the referee wasting little time after consulting with his official in showing Bonnar a straight red card for his actions.

Similar to the reverse fixture at the end of January the Institute reaction to having a player sent off was to defend their goal and invite Newry to try and break them down. Unlike that game which ended scoreless Newry did just that but it did take them until the 67th minute to find a way through, Decky Carville rising highest to nod the ball back across goal finding the unlikely figure of Dara Noonan perfectly placed in a goal poachers position to prod the ball home. 10 minutes later and Newry grabbed a deserved lead, John Boyle pitching a perfect ball into the box, Noonan once more in the right spot to power his header back over Martin Gallagher and into the far side of the net to put Newry 2-1 up.

Although reduced to 10 men the visitors refused to lay down and almost grabbed an equaliser on 85 minutes, substitute Sean McCarron cutting in from the left wing before firing a dipping drive on goal which Maguire pushed over his crossbar with an excellent save.

In injury time Newry made the points safe when Mark McCabe picked the ball up just inside the Institute half before running at the defence and drilling a low shot into the bottom corner of the Institute net from the edge of the box to seal a 3-1 win for the home side.

Match Highlights