Smyth strike spurs Reserves to victory

INSTITUTE Reserves got off to the perfect start in their George Wilson Cup campaign, following this comfortable 2-0 success over Newry City Reserves, on Saturday.

Allan Blair's young charges raced into a first minute lead thanks to Matthew Smyth's goal and they doubled their advantage midway through the first half when Conor Kane made no mistake after a defensive mistake.

Despite securing the victory Blair now wants his players to build on this result, particularly away from Drumahoe.

"We need to start getting a few results away from home, as we have lost a few matches on the road, after getting a positive result the week before and I would like to get that sorted," he said.

"However it was good to get a victory in the George Wilson Cup and we have two games now to ensure we qualify for the semi-finals, we are at home to Glentoran in two weeks time, then we are away to Portadown a few weeks after that, so I'll be expecting to go into the Portadown tie with six points."

This weekend the Reserves host high flying Cliftonville Reserves (KO 2pm) and Blair is expecting a tough match.

"Cliftonville are one of the best sides in our league, they are young and tenacious and like their first team they are a good young hungry side, but to be honest I felt we battled more on Saturday against Newry City, than we usually do and that battling is what we'll have to do again next weekend.

"Last weekend against Portadown we played very well and won 3-1, as everyone played to their strengths but I felt against Newry City we were a little lackadaisical and we had to show our battling skills.

"I just felt everyone gave their all against Newry City, but I now want to try and get a bit of consistency and also getting boys to believe in themselves.

"We have the talent in the dressing room, but it's now just about believing in themselves; we have a lot of young boys in the squad, I have only two guys who are over 20 and because of that sometimes some of the players have a will to win more than others."

As for the match itself the home side broke the deadlock after just 30 seconds when Chris Beattie's teasing left footed cross was calmly turned home at the back post by an unmarked Smyth.

'Stute scored what turned out to be the final goal of the match on 24 minutes when a slack back pass was caught out by the alert Kane, who calmly rounded Newry City keeper Gavin Greaves before side footing home into the empty net.

Ten minutes into the second half a Gareth Smith header from Anderson's well hit free-kick, flashed just past Greaves' left hand post.

On 68 minutes another flowing move by the Waterside men ended with Beattie's super centre finding Anderson but the right winger's drive was blocked by Pauric Magill.

Right at the death Corey Wilson had to make a smart save to ensure his side kept a clean-sheet when he kept out Martin Davidson's powerful header, after the City centre-back got away from his marker.

Institute Res: Wilson, Porter, Anderson, Crown, Smith, Simpson, Smyth, Mullan, McCready, Kane, Beattie. Subs: Lowry for Smyth (15); McAllister for McCready (60); Duffy for Crown (74).

Newry City Res: Greaves, Henry, Canning, Magill, Davidson, Acheson, Flynn, S Devlin, R Devlin, Hughes, McGivern.