LOUGHGALL’S impressive first-half display paved the way for the County Armagh players to knock out top-flight Institute on Wednesday night in the Co-operative Insurance Cup third round, writes The Villager.

Leading by 2-0 at the break, Loughgall managed to limit the hosts as Institute failed to register a single effort on target in the first half.

The second period also proved a dogged affair, with Institute pressing but Loughgall strong at the back to close off the game.

Manager, Niall Currie, provided Willie Herron and Brian Adair with a return to the centre of midfield.

The opener came after 15 minutes when Adair’s delightful chip was touched on by Dean Smith and Michael Doherty spilled the effort, allowing Mattie Burrows (pictured) to tap home from close range.

Two minutes later, Ruari McClean managed to deflect a Burrows shot over the crossbar.

PUNT

On 23 minutes, Loughgall’s Marc Robinson produced a long punt and the ball was headed outside the Institute penalty area by Doherty under pressure from Smith. Adair hit a first-time half-volley from 30 yards but it was cleared off the line by the alert Paddy McLaughlin.

The villagers doubled the advantage in the 28th minute from the penalty spot when Doherty made a rash challenge on Burrows and Smith stepped up to convert.

On 47 minutes, Robinson was called into action when he saved low from substitute, John O’Loughlin.

Alan Murphy missed a chance to send the IFA Championship players into a 3-0 lead when he narrowly nodded over from Ryan Moffatt’s corner-kick delivery on 55 minutes.

After 64 minutes, David Ogilby’s long chip into the Loughgall penalty area was headed goalwards by Paul Brown but Robinson was equal to the effort.

The visitors increased the lead in the 67th minute when a poor defensive header was collected and converted by the alert Burrows.

The hosts grabbed a consolation with 10 minutes remaining when Calvin Mooney’s free-kick was blocked by Robinson and David Ogilby turned home McLaughlin’s pass.

On 87 minutes, Robinson produced a tremendous save to tip over the crossbar from Ogilby.

LOUGHGALL:Marc Robinson, Andy Smith, Bryan Pentland, Neil Alderdice, Alan Murphy, Willie Herron, Ryan Moffatt, Brian Adair, Mattie Burrows, Marty Lavery, Dean Smith.Subs:Steven Hyndes, David Hawthorne, Lukasz Adamczyk, Andy Brown, Paul Baron.