WASTEFUL BALLYMENA AS STUTE PICK UP FIRST HOME POINT
Institute avoided a league defeat at the Brandywell for the first time this season following this draw with Ballymena United.
It was the visitors that started the brighter with Jonny Addis heading over from a Steven McCullough corner early on before Ryan Mayse saw an effort blocked by defender Caoimhin Bonner and keeper Rory Brown.
Mayse was then guilty of wasting a great opportunity for Ballymena when he could only send a free header the wrong side of the post after Kofi Balmer had crossed from the right.
Those misses proved costly on 19 minutes when Aaron McGurk opened the scoring for 'Stute with a neat finish from the edge of the box.
United responded well with Declan Carville and Mayse again having chances but failing to make them count.
Mayse went close again early in the second half with first time volley into the side netting after Carville had touched the ball into his path.
Next came McCullough with a left-foot effort from outside the area while, at the other end, Joe McCready forced United keeper Ross Glendinning into a low save.
David Jeffrey's side eventually levelled with 20 minutes remaining when McCullough delivered a corner to which Addis connected to nod home at the near post.
That was how it stayed for the remainder of the game, although 'Stute might have snatched victory with five minutes remaining when McCready turned on the edge of the area before Glendinning did well to turn his effort around the post.
Institute: R. Brown, Bonner, D. Curry, Grace, Tourish, G. Brown, McCready, McCauley, Crown, McNamee, McGurk subs Wells (not used), C. McLaughlin (replaced G. Brown 80), Dunne (not used), McIntyre (not used), B. McLaughlin (replaced McCauley 90), Leppard (not used), Burke (replaced McNamee 55)
Ballymena United: Glendinning, Addis, Mayse, McCullough, Carville, McGrory, Balmer, Winchester, Ervin, Millar, Kelly subs Williamson (not used), Whiteside (not used), McGinty (replaced Winchester 80), Harpur (not used), K. Kane (replaced Mayse 87), Burns (not used), Lavery (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
