Annagh United produced an assured squad display towards a 5-0 victory over Institute as Craig Taylor bagged a brace alongside goals from Jordan Gibson, Henry Cromack and substitute Rhys Walsh.

TOP RATED

ANNAGH UNITED: Craig Taylor had a goal and key contribution to his name with 20 minutes gone as a key threat during Annagh’s superb opening spell. He had other chances to increase the tally before making his mark after the interval with a second strike.

INSTITUTE: On an afternoon with few positives for Institute, Evan Tweed was a key part of the visitors’ refusal to completely collapse in the face of a demoralising scoreline, with the captain vocal and always bringing energy.

placeholder image — Annagh United and Institute players ahead of Saturday's Championship clash. (Photo by Iconic Media Group)

BIG MOMENT

With just over one minute on the clock, Institute had the first test of Annagh United's long-established set-piece threat - and ultimately conceded a goal, which put the visitors on the back foot and handed the hosts a vital early advantage.

MATCH STATS

F-T: Annagh United 5 Institute 0

84: SUB (Annagh) – Ferguson for Carroll

82: YELLOW (Institute) – Kennedy

81: SUB (Institute) – McGinley for Mullan

80: YELLOW (Institute) – Hegarty

80: GOAL - Annagh United 5 (Walsh) Institute 0

Substitute Walsh twists and turns in the box then guides a curling shot home into the far corner from the left-hand side of the box

79: SUB (Annagh) – Crowe for Upton and McNickle for Gibson

78: GOAL - Annagh United 4 (Taylor) Institute 0

Taylor cuts in from the left off Calvert’s assist and staggers his one-on-one before the ball eventually crossing the line despite the best efforts of a covering Hutton

71: YELLOW (Loughgall) – Carroll

65: SUBS (Institute) – Brolly for Doherty and Hutton for Crown

64: YELLOW (Institute) – O’Kane

63: SUBS (Annagh) – Sproule for Cromack and Walsh for Teggart

60: YELLOW (Annagh) – Rogers

60: SUB (Institute) – Kennedy for Johnston

H-T: Annagh United 3 Institute 0

37: GOAL - Annagh United 3 (Cromack) Institute 0

Cromack finds space behind the Institute backline following a ball from deep and slots home from a tight angle on the right with a calm finish

25: YELLOW (Annagh) - Upton

19: GOAL - Annagh United 2 (Taylor) Institute 0

Institute's problems continue with Cromack pressure forcing a mistake and Taylor eventually converts at the second time of asking

18: YELLOW (Institute) - Doherty

02: GOAL - Annagh United 1 (Gibson) Institute 0

Institute fail to clear the danger off Taylor's set-piece threat and Burns eventually lofts the ball back into the box, with Gibson producing a calm finish over the advancing goalkeeper Mills

ANNAGH UNITED: Dylan Graham, Kris Calvert, Ben Callan, Eoin Teggart, Craig Taylor, Jordan Gibson, Aaron Rogers, Lee Upton, James Carroll, Liam Burns, Henry Cromack.

Subs: Martin Marron, Oliver Crowe, Sam Sproule, Archie Ferguson, Tiarnan McDonald, Rhys Walsh, Ryan McNickle.

INSTITUTE: Jack Mills, Shane Boyle, Graham Crown, Evan Tweed, Caoimhin Porter, Stephen Doherty, Padraig Lynch, Aidan Hegarty, Max Johnston, Danny Hawe, Liam Mullan.

Subs: Gareth Muldoon, Sean O’Kane, Ben Hutton, Tiernan Brolly, Callum Derry, Shea McGinley, Mikhail Kennedy.

Referee: Finton Coyle.

TALKING POINTS

Institute’s response to early disappointment featured pressure that somehow failed to produce a goal from a few yards out with time still in hand to turn the tables.

Both teams continued to carve out chances around the goals in a game played against the backdrop of a close-to-completion new stand behind one goal.

SPECIAL MENTION

Henry Cromack enhanced his reputation as a finisher with a composed strike but will have pleased manager Ciaran McGurgan due to an overall contribution full of work-rate and desire.

With the result long beyond doubt, Dylan Graham - on loan from Larne - produced two late saves, including one simply spectacular, to protect the clean sheet.