A dominant first half display secured Comrades three points from their trip to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium to face Institute.

Paul Harbinson’s men were quick off the blocks and soon had the lead. In the 5th minute, with his third corner in quick succession, Liam McKenna whipped in a beauty which went in at the near post despite a defender’s effort to keep it out.

At the other end Jack Ferguson had to be alert on 15 minutes to block from Brendan McLaughlin after he had made space for a shot from 9 yards out.

A minute later Comrades had a chance when Joe Tully did well to hold the ball up and play in Ciarán Dobbin, but his effort from 16 yards flew over the bar.

In the 22nd minute the visitors doubled their lead. Curtis Woods played an excellent ball into the box from the by-line, finding Adam Gray who took a touch and produced a composed finish from 10 yards.

Comrades continued to look threatening and on 36 minutes they went three up. Liam Hassin burst into the box and was brought down for a penalty. Joe Tully stepped up to take the spot kick, but ‘keeper McCann was able to save it. However, the ball fell back kindly into the path of Tully who this time made no mistake.

The second half was a rather different affair from the first. The hosts, obviously stung by a half-time tongue lashing from their manager, were much improved, while Comrades struggled to reproduce the tempo they had before the break.

In the 49th minute the visitors lost the ball inside their own half allowing Walsh the chance to lash in a shot from the edge of the box, but Jack Ferguson managed to parry it away.

Comrades had a chance to put the result beyond doubt on 66 minutes when Elliot McKim got on the end of another dangerous Liam McKenna corner, but his downward header from 5 yards came back off the surface and wide of the target.

Then, in the 74th minute, a swift counter-attack ended with Andrew Mooney slipping the ball through to Liam McKenna who had surged into the box. His resulting effort hit the side netting from 6 yards out.

The visitors then had a couple of efforts in quick succession in the 80th minute. First Liam McKenna saw his shot from 7 yards turned wide by the ‘keeper, after he had been set up for the effort by Andrew Mooney. Then, from the resulting corner, McCann made a great save to keep out a powerful Joe Tully header.

On 83 minutes Institute got some reward for their improved second half display when Pomeroy converted from the spot after Chris Ramsey had fouled an opponent in the box.

This proved only to be a consolation goal, although in the 88th minute Brendan McLaughlin forced Jack Ferguson to save after a dangerous run into the box.