South suffer heavy defeat to leaders Inst

It was always going to be a hard game, Instonians are the Ulster Premier League’s leader, winning every game so far, and South were missing half their defensive line.
Action from the match between South Antrim and Instonians, at Friends. US1549-537cd  Picture: Cliff DonaldsonAction from the match between South Antrim and Instonians, at Friends. US1549-537cd  Picture: Cliff Donaldson
Action from the match between South Antrim and Instonians, at Friends. US1549-537cd Picture: Cliff Donaldson

Inst started on the front foot and took full advantage for the makeshift back lines uncertainty to win a short corner ten minutes in.

It was duly converted by drag flick into the bottom left corner.

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Still reeling from the early goal, South were disorganised and Inst against took full advantage, winning another corner, again dispatched in the same manner.

A good period of South possession followed as they eased themselves into the game by no notable attacks became of it.

Inst countered and Adam Marshall did well to get back at block the shot only for the ball to ricochet into his feet.

Instonians again made no mistake from the resulting set piece, scoring from a net deflection at the back post.

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At the close of the half, Inst won their fourth short, this time Mark Gray was on hand to deflect to clear the ball off the line.

The well drilled Belfast side were relentless and soon won a fifth short, scoring with a power drag high down the middle.

The second half started better for the South side, with better communication in the defensive line that gave the Inst forwards little space and restricted their chances.

Inst’s fifth goal came from yet another short as another drag flick found the net.

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South again grew into the game with Chris Henry gaining yards and finding space in the circle to get a shot away, unfortunately flying wide.

Inst again countered after a South foray with one long pass bypass South’s midfield found an opposition forward, Ward Phillips blocked his first shot well but the ball fell kindly to the forward who slipped a reverse in at the near post with the keeper still wrong footed form the first attempt.

South were struggling to get the ball out of the back with Inst’s press.

A turnover in midfield left the defence exposed again and a forward rolled a defender and flicked high across goal into the top corner.

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Everything was going right for Inst and badly for South, as Inst finished the scoring with a goal typifiing the dire afternoon South were having.

Mark Gray tackled a forward only for the ball to fall right into the path of another forward who mishit their shot but it still found the net bouncing off the post.

An underpar South side were well beaten by an in form Instonians team.

The young Lisburn side will have to chalk this game off as a bad day and regroup before facing bottom of the table Mossley next weekend.

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