Evan Tweed goal seals Institute win over Portadown

Institute 1

Portadown 0

Evan Tweed's first half goal earned Institute perhaps their most important win of the season at the Brandywell. 

The midfielder popped up just two minutes before half time to send a brilliant finish past Aaron Hogg, and from there 'Stute, despite facing huge pressure, held on to win.  

There was a chance for ‘Stute as early as the fourth minute when Michael Harris found space to run in down the right and his cross towards the near post was met by Kirk McLaughlin whose flick went into the side netting.

It was a positive start from the home side against the league leaders and they came close again when a free kick into the area fell for Evan Tweed. The midfielder couldn’t get the ball under control to shoot, but he managed to direct it into the path of Harris on the edge of the area, and his shot deflected just wide for a corner. ‘Stute kept the pressure on and from that corner, the ball came to Fionn McClure at the back post, who brought the first real save of the game from Aaron Hogg, who needed a strong hand to block the defender’s effort.

Portadown were second best in the early stages but they did threaten on 16 minutes when Mark Russell’s cross from the left found Eamon Fyfe completely unmarked close to goal, but the striker, unaware of the space he had, sent a weak header wide of the target.

Portadown grew more into the game and Gareth Muldoon had to be strong to push away a fierce effort from Fyfe, before Luke Wilson came close from the corner which followed.

The breakthrough came just before the break and it was a brilliant finish from Tweed, who latched onto a low cross from Harris, setting himself up to curl the ball beyond Hogg and into the net for his second goal of the season.

Half Time 1-0

Portadown thought they had levelled the game on the hour when Fyfe put the ball in the net, but the celebrations of the travelling supporters were cut short with the ball out of play in the build-up, and a corner scant consolation for the visitors.

The pressure from the visitors was relentless with Leppard and Boyle intervening in countless crosses as Portadown pushed and pushed and pushed. ‘Stute could barely get a touch of the ball as he game reached the 70-minute mark and Kevin Deery made two changes in response, replacing Tweed and Sean Carlin with Mark Mbuli and Liam Mullan.

It showed just how the second half was going when ‘Stute won a rare corner with six minutes remaining, but both ‘Stute centre-halves, Leppard and Boyle, stayed where they were, instead of heading forward. Nonetheless, Portadown had the chance to level when Cochrane skipped away from Orrin McLaughlin and set up Ryan Mayse, but his effort from 20 yards was badly off target.

'Stute managed the game superbly in the closing stages, and both Boyle and Leppard were outstanding as 'Stute held form for a huge victory.  

Teams

INSTITUTE: Gareth Muldoon, Shaun Leppard, Patrick McClure (Bobby Deane 82’), Evan Tweed (Liam Mullan 71’), Dylan King, Tiarnan McKinney (Orrin McLaughlin 82’), Sean Carlin (Mark Mbuli 71’), Michael Harris, Oisin Devlin, Shane Boyle, Kirk McLaughlin (Bradley Callaghan 62’).

PORTADOWN: Aaron Hogg, Ross Redman, Chrstopher Rodgers, Luke Wilson, Lee Chapman, Eoghan McCawl, Ryan Mayse (Joe Williamson 89’), Mark Russell (Caolin Coyle 75’), Kenneth Kane, Eamon Fyfe, Gary Thompson (Samuel Cochrane 75’).

REFEREE: Shane McGonigle.