ANDY Smith may have marked his return to a Portadown line-up with a goal on Easter Tuesday but it was hometown hero, Johnny Topley, who provided the real treat in a 2-1 defeat of Institute.

Topley popped up to head home a Gareth McKeown cross and it proved little surprise that both goals by the visitors arrived as a result of set-piece situations on an afternoon in which passing football proved at a premium.

Ross Redman tracked back to make life difficult for Declan Divin on four minutes and his team-mate in the opposite full-back position - Philip Craig - provided Portadown’s first glimpse of goal soon after by hitting narrowly past the post following a neat exchange with Kevin Braniff on the right.

Philip Lowry displayed impressive strength to shrug off the challenge of Portadown’s Peter Kennedy inside the box but clever covering by Topley helped the visitors escape the threat.

Portadown’s first real sight of goal resulted in the opening highlight on 36 minutes as Smith announced his return from suspension by curling home a free-kick from distance past Michael Doherty’s dive.

However, on 43 minutes, Institute managed to engineer space along the right flank and capped the patient attack with a cross from Lowry which Steven Campbell turned home unmarked at the back post.

It may have been telling that Ports captain and key centre-back, John Convery, required extensive treatment just moments before the goal and left the field as a result of injury just seconds later.

The second half failed to spark into life as both sets of players proved careless in possession, with the difficult playing surface problematic.

DEPARTURE

Only time will tell if Convery’s departure sparks a long-term loss to the team but McKeown’s introduction as his replacement certainly yielded short-term results on Tuesday.

McKeown’s initial attempt from a free-kick was cleared to the edge of the penalty area but the defender picked up the loose ball and whipped a delightful cross into the heart of the box which Topley managed to steer home in style.

Boyle came close to increasing the advantage by controlling a Topley pass then firing goalwards but strong hands from Doherty left the midfielder frustrated.

Martin Cutmore drilled a testing cross across the face of goal on 80 minutes but Portadown managed to protect the goalmouth and the visitors created further scoring opportunities without success.

Braniff headed another McKeown delivery over the bar then displayed impressive skill to cut into the area but opted to shoot with Boyle in the perfect position for a pass.

Boyle then smashed a shot over the target in the closing seconds but Portadown’s slender lead remained intact at the final whistle.

INSTITUTE:Michael Doherty, Graeme Philson, Martin Cutmore, Eamonn Seydak, Ruairi McClean, David Ogilby, Ryan Semple, Philip Lowry, John O’Loughlin, Declan Divin, Steven Campbell.