Evan Tweed nets stunning 40 yard strike as Institute in seventh heaven against Newington

EVAN TWEED stole the show with an outrageous 40 yard strike - the pick of the bunch - as a ruthless Institute thumped league leaders Newington by seven goals at Brandywell Stadium.

The Institute skipper scored twice inside the opening six minutes to stun the North Belfast outfit who had just one defeat in the league from their opening nine prior to this demolition job by a 'Stute team hurting from a 5-0 humbling by Annagh the previous weekend.

What a difference seven days can make. Peter Hutton's men were 3-0 down against Annagh at half-time at the BMG Arena last week, but this week they were three goals ahead against Newington with 45 minutes on the clock.

Tweed opened the scoring after 90 seconds as his 30 yard free-kick sailed into the net before that audacious lob caught Ethan Carry in no man's land after six minutes.

Stephen Doherty added the third following a lovely move involving Liam Mullan and Ben Hutton on 24 minutes but there was no let-up after the break.

Padraig Lynch, nominated for BoyleSports Championship Player of the Month for September, got in on the act, scoring from close range two minutes after the break to take his impressive tally to eight goals.

Newington sub, Nathan Watters turned the ball into his own net from Shea McGinley's cross to make it 5-0 just before the hour mark and Caoimhin Porter raced beyond his marker and poked the ball home for the sixth on 63 minutes.

'Stute sub, Tiernan Brolly put the finishing touches on a stunning result, scoring the seventh goal six minutes after being introduced from the bench as Hutton's troops sent a real statement of intent with a win that moved them into fifth spot -just four points behind now second-placed Newington.

It was the perfect tonic for 'Stute who go into Tuesday night's North West Senior Cup semi-final against Moyola in confident mood.

Hutton made three changes from the team that lost heavily to Annagh, bringing Sean O'Kane, Ben Hutton and Shea McGinley back in the starting line-up at the expense of Graham Crown, Aidan Hegarty and Max Johnston.

'Stute got off to a dream start as they took full advantage of referee Mark Milligan's contentious decision to award a free kick for a handball by Odhran Dunlop with just 90 seconds on the clock.

Tweed floated the resultant 30 yard free-kick into a crowded penalty area and it bounced into the net while goalkeeper Ethan Carry was flat-footed. 'Stute striker Lynch attempted to head Tweed's cross and did enough to distract the Newington 'keeper.

Less than three minutes later, 'Stute doubled their lead with an audacious 40 yard screamer from Tweed who spotted Carry off his line and executed his lobbed attempt to perfection.

Newington were stunned into action and Paul Donnelly's header narrowly missed the target at the back post from Aidan Kelly's cross from the left.

Stute could've been forgiven for going into their defensive shell but far from it.

Hutton's troops added a third on 24 minutes in emphatic fashion after a lovely exchange between Liam Mullan and Doherty which began on the edge of the Newington penalty area.

A neat one-two between the pair set Mullan in behind and the midfielder reached the byline before picking out Doherty who fired into the net with aplomb from close range.

The Belfast men were understandably rattled and Paul Donnelly was cautioned for a robust challenge on Shea McGinley just inside the 'Stute half.

That flashpoint led to an angry exchange between 'Stute boss Hutton and Newington midfielder Michael Morgan which the match officials quickly extinguished.

'Stute came close again on the half hour mark when McGinley's shot was charged down and Doherty attempted an acrobatic bicycle kick which went narrowly over the bar.

'Stute certainly weren't intimidated and could've been 4-0 up on 33 minutes, but Lynch was denied by the outstretched leg of Carry when he was played in behind.

As the first half drew to a close 'Stute struggled to maintain possession, but despite four minutes of additional time, Newington couldn't infiltrate the resolute home defence.

Institute added a fourth goal two minutes into the second half when Mullan picked out McGinley in the box, but his low strike was turned away from goal by Carry's outstretched right hand. The ball fell kindly to Lynch who made no mistake with a clinical close range finish - his eighth goal of the season.

Institute tails were up and suddenly they were 5-0 ahead on 57 minutes when McGinley's cross from the right was bundled into his own net by substitute Nathan Watters just three minutes after being introduced and with his first touch!

The delighted home support didn't have long to wait for a sixth - six minutes in fact as Porter raced in behind the Newington defence and poked it past Carry at his near post.

The ruthless Waterside men weren't finished yet as two substitutes combined for a seventh on 75 minutes. Aidan Hegarty showed a burst of pace on the left side and Carry got a toe to divert his cross into the path of Brolly who gleefully tapped the ball home.

It was a stunning win for Institute who will take huge confidence from this all-round team display - a result which consigns that 5-0 drubbing by Annagh last week to the history books.

Institute: Mills: Porter (Brolly 69), Hawe, O'Kane, Boyle; Tweed (Deery 69), Doherty (Crown 65), McGinley, Hutton; Mullan (Hegarty 65), Lynch (Kennedy 65).

Newington: Carry; Dunlop (Downey 54), Rice, Duffy (Watters 54), Byrne; Kelly, P. Donnelly (Stuart 66), Gowdy (McGreevy 66), Morgan; Duffy, Donnelly.