STUTE ON ROUTE TO PLAY-OFF

INSTITUTE will play Ballyclare Comrades in this season’s first round of promotion playoffs after they secured a 1-0 victory at fourth-placed PSNI on Saturday. Sammy Morrow’s finish eight minutes into the second half was enough to secure the points for Kevin Deery’s men and ensure they earned back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since September. Had the Police won the match, it would have set up a tense final day of fixtures and given the South Belfast side a chance of snatching a late playoff spot with a win over Dergview. However, Stute consolidate their position in second spot and will travel to third-placed Comrades on the final day of the season, with the East Antrim side needing to notch up an unlikely seven-goal victory to claim second. That will be the first of three meetings between the clubs in the space of six days as they will then clash in the two-legged playoff, with the winners going on to meet Carrick Rangers in another two-legged playoff with the reward a place in next season’s top flight. Warrenpoint lifted the Championship title at Milltown on Saturday after a comprehensive 4-1 win over Dergview. John Mcguigan opened the scoring for Matthew Tipton’s side in the first half but Ryan Campbell levelled the match for the visitors just after the break – the former Ballinamallard man netting his 27th goal of the campaign. Forward Ruairi Croskery restored the lead for Warrenpoint with a close-range finish before Jody Lynch (circled) evaded several defensive challenges and fired home. January signing Anto Reilly headed in a fourth for the rampant Warrenpoint to wrap up a handsome victory before lifting the Championship title after the final whistle. Going into the final weekend of the regulation league season, the Point have secured promotion and will be replaced in next season’s Championship by Portadown. Annagh United’s relegation to the Premier Intermediate League has already been confirmed while second-from-bottom Armagh City will face the runners-up in the third tier in a promotion/relegation playoff match – with Limavady United and Newry City fighting for the top two spots.