Heartbreak for Institute as late fight back saves Ballymena United’s Premiership status
Ballymena United 2 Institute 0 (Ballymena won 2-1 on aggregate)
Ballymena United's Calvin McCurry celebrates the goal that kept his side in the Premiership.
Calvin McCurry was the toast of the Ballymena Showgrounds last night as his 87th minute strike saw the Braidmen cling on to their Premiership status.
The Sky Blues left it late to find redemption, trailing Institute 1-0 from the first leg and spurning a host of chances to score on a thrilling night at Warden Street.
Stevie McCullough finally pulled one back from a free kick outside the box on 78 minutes before McCurry came off the bench to poke home on 87 minutes.
Both teams had men sent off in the second-half as pressure took its toll, and it was the jubilant home support who went wild with delight at the final whistle.
Institute fought valiantly over the two legs and had chances to score on the night, but were eventually worn down by a very determined Ballymena team.
Kick-off on a pleasant evening at Warden Street was delayed by 15 minutes due to traffic congestion in and around the ground before referee Keith Kennedy got proceedings under way.
Goal scorers Steven McCullough and Calvin McCurry celebrate Ballymena United's victory
Scot Whiteside was named captain but handed the armband to McCullough on his 250th appearance for the Sky Blues, and the home support was fired up and in great voice to back their team to overcome the first leg deficit.
A tense, absorbing first half unfolded with both teams showing industry and passion in their quest for top-flight football next season.
The home side had the first decent chance to score after seven minutes when Stute conceded a free kick in a central position 25 yards from goal, McCullough swept a dipping effort over the wall and mere inches wide of the far post.
Institute responded through Oisin Devlin, whose hooked cross from the byline two minutes later forced Sean O'Neill to palm away for a corner, from which Ballymena broke as McMurray beat Devlin to the ball to streak clear into the Stute half, but his early shot failed to trouble the retreating Fintan Doherty.
Institute were very well drilled and marshalled by Dylan King in the heart of defence, kept Ballymena largely at bay for the first half-hour and almost took the lead at the other end on 21 minutes, but for the heroics of Sean O'Neill.
The Ballymena 'keeper denied Devlin's shot from the left channel of the box then got up swiftly to deny Sean Carlin's follow-up shot in front of goal with admirable agility.
Institute's Oisin Devlin receives his marching orders
However, the Braidmen resumed their pressure on the Drumahoe side and almost broke the deadlock on 32 minutes through the impressive McMurray, who beat King to a ball in the box to square to Fraser Taylor in a good position in front of goal.
However, the little Scot's first touch was clumsy and when he got his shot off, Caoimhin Porter had raced back to clear the effort off the line.
McCullough was proving typically dangerous from dead balls, dropping three free kicks right on top of Doherty in the Institute goal and with no Ballymena player able to get a flick to the ball, the 19-year-old gathered safely.
McMurray did some excellent spade work down the left flank to feed Taylor on the corner of the box, the St Mirren player looked up to shoot but his curling effort flew well past the far post.
This full-blooded first period of play looked to be petering to an end when 'Stute almost shot themselves in the foot when Doherty slid to retrieve a wayward ball near the byline, left the ball behind to keep it in play as he slipped off the pitch allowing McMurray to pounce, but the 29-year-old striker found the side netting from a very acute angle.
McMurray had another two chances to find the target after the break but snatched at them before Devlin picked up his first booking on 58 minutes and his second on 76 minutes to reduce the visitors to ten men.
Stute conceded two minutes later from a free kick just outside the box, and this time McCullough got his contact spot on to send the ball into the top left corner of the net.
As the Championship club waned, Ervin sent McCurry on for McMurray and his faith was repaid with just three minutes remaining when the 22-year-old capitalised on uncertainty in the Stute back line to pounce and push the ball past Doherty from eight yards.
Daithi McCallion was sent off in added time for a heavy challenge on Shaun Leppard but Ballymena held on, survived a late Leppard shot that flew past the post and can plan for life in the Premiership next season.
Meanwhile, Dergview were relegated to the Premier Intermediate League following a play-off loss to Armagh City. Following a first leg 1-1 draw, the second leg at Darragh Park was 0-0 at half-time. Extra-time saw both team exchange goals before Armagh sealed promotion to the Championship with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out.
Ballymena United: O'Neill, Rocks, Whiteside(c), McCullough, Taylor, McMurray (McCurry 79), D Boyle, Brown, Place (Gawne 68), Stewart, McCallion.
Subs not used: Johnstone, McGrory, McAuley, Barr, Hood.
Institute: Doherty, Porter, Lafferty (McLaughlin 88), Leppard, Mullan, Dunne (McGinty 68), King (c), Carlin (Tweed 45), Harris (Boyle 78), Devlin, Quigley (McKinney 88).
Subs not used: Muldoon, Burke.
Referee: Keith Kennedy (Lisburn)
Man of the match: Stevie McCullough
Match rating: 7/10
Heartbreak for Institute - they were ten minutes away from Premiership football
Goalkeeper Doherty goes forward - producing an unreal first touch to set up Sean Boyle - his volley goes inches wide
Institute are down to 10 men
