A SIX goal shocker saw a resurrected Glentoran bolster their title hopes and Institute surrender themselves to the bottom six for the remainder of the season.

Institute's lack of composure, pace and defensive shape eventually allowed Glentoran to very quickly deconstruct them, as the East Belfast netted three in seven minutes and now retain their position at the table's zenith.

Matthew Burrows will be celebrating his first brace of the season while Gary Hamilton has now totalled 17 goals this term and veteran Colin Nixon took an opportunistic tap-in. However, Glentoran were there for the taking in the first half and Institute even took the lead twice in the game.

Alan McDonald's curious tactic of selecting three main defenders in Jason Hill, Johnny Taylor and Paul Leeman to contain two forwards proved, at first, to be a costly underestimation.

Kevin Ramsey and Paul Brown exercised their physicality to resounding effect and although they are not typically the sort of forwards who run into overhead balls, they easily out-muscled the Glentoran defence. Goals from Ramsey and David Ogilby were strong statements for John Gregg's side.

Ramsey took the lead for Institute after beautifully chipping a ball over a stranded Elliott Morris on 14 minutes. On the half hour mark Gary Hamilton, Hill and Daryl Fordyce teamed up to produce Glentoran's first major threat on goal but Fordyce's thumping effort was cleared off the line by the determined 'Stute goalkeeper Alan Ryan.

Glentoran were ferocious in their counter-attack and Hamilton checked into half time with an all-important equaliser. Later, 'Stute's Declan Divin dutifully served a perfectly positioned Ogilby, who only had to bow his head to beat Morris mid-way through the second half.

Trailing Glentoran looked unlikely at this stage to challenge, but their comeback was of monumental proportions and it started with smarter defending. Eamon Seydak took a free kick from 20 yards out and curled it dangerously towards goal but Leeman had it covered with his diffusing header.

McDonald made an essential substitution when he introduced Matthew Burrows for Sean Ward in the second half. Ward had played just in front of defence but for a more aggressive twist to the game, Burrows enhanced the attack immeasurably.

The former Dundela striker drilled the ball into the bottom near corner on 82 minutes after beating Institute's Mark Scoltock in open play. Just two minutes later, Hamilton delivered a nice free kick which Leeman headed onto the bar, but Nixon was there to tap in rebound from no more than a couple of yards out. Burrows emerged again to compound the win, by burying Hamilton's thoughtful cross from just outside the six yard box.

Heartbreak for Gregg but McDonald was thankful that his hopes had been realised. "I had certainly hoped that we'd comeback like that but nothing can be taken for granted, nor can any team be underestimated," he said after the game. "Institute are a very tough side and definitely made it hard for us to match them in the first half but we came out after half time and got out game back a bit. The pressure will only continue to build now as everything is still open but we'll continue and aim to achieve the very best we can."

'Stute entered this fixture with two primary objectives - firstly to consolidate a top six place in the league and secondly to prevent any injuries in advance of their high-octane Irish Cup semi final against Crusaders on 4 April. Success in the Irish Cup finals will be contested by Institute now, since as far as the league is concerned, it's a case of settling for second best this season.