Daniel Lafferty wonder strike gives Institute first leg advantage over Ballymena United

Former Northern Ireland international Daniel Lafferty's second half wonder strike was enough to separate the sides and sets things up nicely for Friday night’s second leg clash, at the Showgrounds.

The Maiden City men went into the encounter trying to get over the play-off hoodoo.

In 2016 they suffered late heartache at Ballinamallard, then 12 months later they were easily seen off by Carrick Rangers, in fact that loss to Rangers resulted in Kevin Deery resigning a few days after the defeat.

After a few stints as assistant boss at both Sligo Rovers and Derry City, Deery returned to the Stute dug-out this season and has built a completely youthful squad, which have impressed with some free-flowing football.

For Jim Ervin, in his first year in the manager’s hot-seat, he went into the first leg hoping his side could continue their recent good form, as they won three games out of their remaining five matches.

The encounter for the Drumahoe men was probably their biggest game since Paddy McLaughlin’s side saw off Larne to claim the Championship title way back in 2018.

United were inches away from taking an 11th minute lead as Fraser Taylor’s stinging effort, which took a deflection off Dylan King and had goalkeeper Fintan Doherty beaten, came back off the post.

Moments later United should have done better as Noah Stewart showed good skill to get away from Caoimhin Porter, but from an acute angle the young winger’s effort hit the side netting.

Stute were inches away from taking the lead on 28 minutes as Porter’s long range effort had to be superbly tipped over by United goalkeeper Sean O’Neill.

The Drumahoe side went close to taking the lead twice in quick succession just before the break, firstly Jamie Dunne’s right footed strike from the right hand edge of the box was saved by O’Neill and Steven McCullough got back to block Porter’s follow-up.

United had strong claims for a penalty right at the start of the second half as Porter seemed to handle Sean Brown’s cross inside the box, but referee Evan Boyce waved away their protests.

Institute, who slowly started to get into the contest, went close on 55 minutes but midfielder Liam Mullan’s long range strike fizzed just over O’Neill’s crossbar.

The home side continued to push forward and had a penalty appeal themselves but Mullan’s shot, which seemed to be blocked by Daithi McCallion’s arm, but again referee Boyce made the right call and waved play-on.

Institute deservedly took the lead on 57 minutes when following a lung bursting run by Michael Harris, the striker laid the ball off to Jamie Dunne, the left winger cut inside to find Lafferty and the ex-Derry City man made no mistake from 30 yards, firing high into O’Neill’s top right hand corner.

O’Neill was called into action again on 70 minutes as Porter’s left footed shot from the edge of the box was easily gathered by the ex-Crusaders net-minder. Right at the death, McCullough's ball into the box found Stewart, but his close range shot was blocked by Oisin Devlin.

Then deep into stoppage time, Sean Brown’s angled drive from the right hand side of the box was superbly kept out by Doherty, the keeper diving low to boot the ball away.

Evan Boyce’s final whistle, which came on 100 minutes, was greeted by massive cheers from the large home support.

Institute: Doherty, Porter (Tweed 80), Leppard, King, Lafferty (Burke 89), Quigley; Mullan, Devlin, Carlin (McGinty 83); Dunne (McLaughlin 89), Harris.

Ballymena United: O’Neill, Whiteside, Gawne (Place 78), McCullough, Taylor, Boyle, Brown, Stewart, Barr (Rocks 61), McCurry (McMurray 84), McCallion.

Referee: Evan Boyce (Ballygowan).