Institute

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Linfield

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LINFIELD RECORD NARROW WIN AT THE RIVERSIDE

14th Mar 2015

Linfield kept up the chase on leaders Crusaders with this single goal defeat of Institute at the Riverside Stadium.

The Blues started well, creating a number of early opportunities with Aaron Burns seeing a seventh minute angled drive saved at the near post while Andrew Waterworth worked his way through the defence before firing just over from 18 yards.

Perhaps the best chance fell on 36 minutes when Jamie Mulgrew took the ball in from the left only to fire straight at Marty Gallagher.

But the deadlock was broken three minutes from the break when Burns rose highest at the near post to nod home Ross Clarke's corner from the left.

Despite falling behind, 'Stute showed more promise during the early periods of the second half when first Robbie Hume and then Jordan Armstrong threatened in front of goal just before the hour.

However, Linfield never looked like relinquishing their lead and might have extended it on 64 minutes when Sammy Morrow turned well to test Gallagher with a good right-foot effort.

And, with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, Waterworth also came close with a shot just inches the wrong side of the left post.

Then, as the game drifted into stoppage time, Waterworth came close again only this time the ball went past the other post followed swiftly by a Rodney Brown header over the bar from a Ross Clarke corner.

Institute: Gallagher, Crown, D. Curry, McLaughlin, Scoltock, Walsh, Forker, McManus, Hume, Armstrong, McCrudden subs Young (not used), O'Donnell (replaced Scotlock 46), McKeever (replaced D. Curry 74), Burke (replaced Armstrong 71), S. Curry (not used)

Linfield: Tuffey, Belezika, Callacher, Waterworth, Lowry, Burns, Ward, M. Clarke, Morrow, Mulgrew, R. Clarke subs Ross Glendinning (not used), Carvill (not used), Millar (not used), Brown (replaced Morrow 81), Quinn (replaced Belezika 70)

Referee: Mervyn Smyth

Attendance: 629

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