Match report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks) Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Neil Partridge and David Hunter

Match Report from Neil Partridge

The Whites commenced their 2007 pre-season campaign with a comfortable win this evening at Aircraft Park. Injury ruled out regulars, Wayne Buchanan, Andy Kilmartin and Darren Armour, with Julian Ward and Gary Browne making their debuts in the famous White shirts.

We didn't have long to wait for Lisburn Distillery's first goal of the new season, when Nathan McConnell marked his return to the club with an excellent finish on five minutes after receiving a through pass from strike partner Andy Waterworth, McConnell tucking the ball away to the keeper's right with a well placed first time shot. Shorts responded to this early strike by equalising three minutes later after the Whites defence failed to clear on several occasions, the Shorts player firing
past a helpless Philip Matthews. Lisburn Distillery looked comfortable on the ball for long periods of the half but had to be alert to the danger of several quick breaks by the home side. McConnell had further chances to put his team comfortably ahead and Gary Browne must have felt unlucky when his free-kick on thirty five minutes came back of the underside of the crossbar. Also, Andy Waterworth failed to convert a Ward cross just before half time.

Half-time - 1 - 1

Gary Browne scored the goal of the match five minutes after the re-start. Collecting the ball just inside the box he turned and fired past the home keeper with an excellent strike. As the half wore on the usual rash of substitutions took place with both Mark Cooling and Lee Mercer spurning great chances to increase Lisburn Distillery's lead. The excellent Browne showed them the way to the back of the net when he converted a Waterworth cross for his second and the team's third goal on sixty three minutes. The Whites looked in total command at this stage although only one further strike arrived on eighty minutes when Mark Cooling converted from the spot after trialist Carl Rezai was fouled in the box.

Overall highlights for the Whites were the performances of Andy Waterworth who really looked in a different class, Gary Browne who looked even better as a striker in the second half than his wing position in the first period and finally Julian Ward who worked tirelessly in the midfield. The Whites' East Belfast tour continues just up the Holywood Road against Sirocco Works on Thursday evening at Ashfield Boys High School..

Speaking afterwards, Whites' Paul Kirk, (pictured) below said, "I am pleased with the result, we started off well and played some good passing football, some players impressed, others need to do more. I am however very disappointed at the goal we conceded, I made it clear to the players at half-time that we simply cannot concede goals of that nature in senior games.It was unacceptable. Second-half, we introduced a number of younger players and they all did well, a good start to the pre-season programme."

Additional reporting and photographs: David Hunter

Official Club and First Team Sponsor of Lisburn Distillery

Match report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks) Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net and Neil Partridge

Match Report from Neil Partridge

Lisburn Distillery continued their impressive early pre-season form with another comfortable victory against Sirocco Works this evening on
the synthetic pitch at the Ashfield Arena.

Paul Kirk added Michael Ferguson, Johnny Magee and Andy Kilmartin to the squad that had played against Shorts forty eight hours earlier.
Ironically it was Sirocco who forced the first save of the match when keeper Wilton was forced to stop a shot from the number eleven after a
free kick had been awarded against the Whites. This was the wake-up call the Whites needed, and on eight minutes a Nathan McConnell header
through the centre was touched in by fellow forward Aaron Johnston, a soft goal conceded form Sirocco's point of view.

A minute later a Dickson free kick swung in from the right was tucked away by James Bell. Lisburn Distillery threatened to run amok at this stage with chances
falling to Rezai, Muir, Johnston, Cooling and Dickson, all unfortunately not converted. It was only a matter of time before the
Whites scored again although when this happened on forty-one minutes it was actually an own goal from the Sirocco Works right back when he hit
an attempted clearance into the back of his own net, acutally a pretty spectacular goal !

Johnston nearly added another strike a minute later when after showing great control he ran forward but shot just wide of the post. Sirocco Works nearly had the final say right on half time when Wilton again was forced to push away another fine free kick form the number eleven, from the resultant corner they then hit the bar with Wilton beaten.

The main highlight of the Whites first half display was the excellent display and combination of the Andrew Dickson and Dean Youle on the right side with Dickson in particular putting in some useful crosses that unfortunately failed to be converted.

Half-time - 0-3

The second half began with only centre-halves Paul Muir and Johnny Magee surviving from the previous forty five. The changes unfortunately reflected in a pretty lacklustre first quarter. Peter McCann missed several good chances with Julian Ward also went close to increasing the scoreline. The fourth goal arrived on sixty-eight minutes when Gary Browne shot past the keeper from the left side.

Seven minutes later a Ryan McCann cross from the left was met by Andy Waterworth who blasted home from close range, the Whites' fifth goal
of the night. Just when it looked like Peter McCann wasn't going to score after again missing another chance on eighty minutes, he finally found the net on eighty- seven after a Browne shot had come back of the post, McCann met the rebound to steer the ball home.

Again this match was a good fitness exercise for the players, which at this stage is what it's all about. Certainly harder tests will follow,
but the Whites' supporters cannot certainly complain about a lack of goals so far this pre-season.

Full-time - 0 - 6

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Match report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks) Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, David Hunter and Jonathan Irwin

Match report from David Hunter

The waiting over, Lisburn Distillery were edged out by a cool finish from John Fleck on 32 minutes in this pre-season friendly against a Rangers XI.The 15-year nephew of former Rangers and Norwich City striker Robert, was put in the clear by Rory Loy and he slipped the ball past Phil Matthews and into the net.

“It was a very good finish, we have spoken about him many times in Glasgow.” said team boss Ian Durrant. “He is doing ok and again he showed his coolness, he done well, very well. The game was played in a good manner, both teams playing attractive football. Paul Kirk was true to his word, they gave us a stern test and a great work out.”

The Whites started out promisingly and Andrew Waterworth got to the bye-line to send a teasing cross along the edge of the six-yard box, unfortunately no-one in a white shirt could get close enough to make contact. Gary Browne's corner was cleared by Andrew Shinnie, and then on 15 minutes Julian Ward was unable to get enough height to direct Peter McCann's cross on target.

The game flowed, both teams attacking and Matthews was across his goal on 17 minutes to clutch a 20 yard free-kick from Shinnie, and then an enterprising move by Steven Kinniburgh broke down on the edge of the box when the full-back was pushing forward. Paul Kirk’s side countered, Chris Smith hooking clear a header from Andrew Waterworth and Andy Kilmartin then cracked a 30 yard effort over the top before the Gers scored that goal.

It gave the young visitors side a lift - Matthews then out again to the edge of the box to snatch the ball away from the in-rushing Steven Lennon with Shinnie then sending a 30 yard effort off target right on the break.

After half-time Shinnie was denied by two good saves from Matthews, the second the best of the game as he punched the midfielder’s header over on 51 minutes.Back came the Whites two minutes later, Paul Muir bringing down Browne's corner, his touch took him wide and under pressure from Smith he saw Calum Reidford beat out the effort at the near post. On 58 minutes Waterworth cut in from the left to send a curling shot a couple of feet just over Reidford's cross-bar before he missed the Whites best chance on 65 minutes. Inside his own half he ran on to Ryan McCann's pass and broke clear down the pitch but as the keeper came out his shot went the wrong side of the woodwork.

A spate of substitutions then took place before Lennon's free-kick dropped onto the roof of the net on 78 minutes and the last action of note was an 85th minute snapshot from William McLachlan that was held by David Wilton.

“They had better opportunities in and around the box and Philip had more saves that their keeper had to make and that sums it up” said Whites’ boss Paul Kirk. It’s been a great day here and we were delighted to have Rangers as our visitors.”

After the match, a civic reception was held for both teams in the Island Civic Centre, Lisburn, by Lisburn City Council.

Lisburn Distillery – Matthews (Wilton 71), Alderdice (Dickson 57), Magee, Muir, Thompson, P.McCann (Youle 80), Kilmartin (Johnston 82), R.McCann (Rezai 77), Ward (Cooling 71), Waterworth (Bell 82), Browne (McConnell 60) Sub Buchanan

Rangers XI – Reidford, Lowing, Kinniburgh (McDonald 69), Harvey, Smith, Emslie, McMillen (McLachlan 64), Shinnie, Lennon (McMillen 84), Loy (Furman 46) Subs Park (76), Weir

Referee: Ken Ginnett (Newtownabbey)

Photographs Copyright David Hunter and Jonathan Irwin - reproduced with permission and thanks

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Match report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks) Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Neil Partridge and David Hunter

Match Report from Neil Partridge

The Whites pre-season bandwagon rolled into Clandeboye Road this evening, last season's First Division hotshots, Bangor, our latest opponents.

Paul Kirk, unsurprisingly, made eight changes to the side that lined up against Dromara Village the previous evening, the squad also included a
welcome return for ace marksman Darren Armour starting his comeback from injury.

Bangor started the game confidently with Philip Matthews having to be alert, pulling off a point-blank save after ten minutes. On fourteen minutes Andy Waterworth gave the Whites the lead after the home defence miss-hit an attempted clearance, Waterworth nipping in to hit the ball home at the keeper Brown's near post.

Play for the rest of the half was poor, both teams cancelling each other out, especially in the midfield area. Bangor showed some good movement
on occasions, but Lisburn Distillery were always quick to shut the opposition down at the first opportunity.

Half-time 0-1

Paul Kirk changed things at half time by introducing both Damien McLaughlin and James Bell to the action. On fifty minutes Gary Browne
came close to increasing the Whites' lead, pushing his shot wide from a McLaughlin knock down. Browne was also unlucky on sixty-four minutes,
on this occasion a Peter McCann cross from the right was knocked wide by the forward.

The home side sprung to life on seventy minutes when they peppered Matthews' goal with a combination of around five shots all being either blocked or scrambled and pushed away. The crossbar was also hit. Waterworth, McLaughlin and Nathan McConnell responded with missed chances for the Whites.The highlight of the night followed on seventy four minutes when Gary Browne neatly turned and fired home from around eighteen yards to put Distillery two
goals to the good.

The final quarter of the game played out with McConnell and Mercer missing good chances, although to be fair Bangor didn't give up but again failed to find the net on at least two occasions.

This was probably Lisburn Distillery's poorest showing of pre-season so far, in saying that, the team still won, keeping a clean sheet in the process.
One player who just keeps on impressing is young centre back Johnny Magee deputising superbly with skipper Wayne Buchanan out injured.

The pre-season progamme continues on Monday night, the Whites travelling to Wilgar Park to meet Dundela.

Full-time 0 - 2

Speaking afterwards, Whites' boss Paul Kirk (pictured below) added; " We didn't perform as well as I would have liked, it wasn't a great game of football, we couldn't get our passing going but we are still missing some key players at present and at this stage it is all about preparation and working up our fitness and I am pleased with that."

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Match Report from Neil Partridge

Lisburn Distillery put in a much improved performance to emerge victorious against Dundela last night. The good surface complimented the Whites' fast passing game and at the back the defence once again kept that all important clean sheet.

The Whites first clear cut chance arrived on ten minutes when McConnell fired a shot across the face of the goal, he then followed this up five minutes later with going one on one with the home keeper, the stopper produced a fine save to his left. Andy Kilmartin tried to open the scoring a minute later, but his shot from long range was just over the bar. Lisburn Distillery were really showing some great awareness and movement at this stage, with the influential Kilmartin pulling the strings in midfield. On the half -hour mark, Gary Browne had a snap shot parried by the keeper, from the resultant corner the home defence eventually scrambled the ball away.

Carl Rezai fired just over from a Browne corner on thirty- three minutes with the Dundela number nine shooting just wide from close range two minutes later. Leading up to half time McConnell, Kilmartin and Browne all missed further chance to put the Whites into the lead.

Half-time 0 - 0

The second half began with Paul Kirk making four changes to the line-up. On fifty minutes Kilmartin showed great skill on the left, but unfortunately no-one was able to get a final touch on his great cross into the box. On sixty-five minutes the Whites finally took a deserved lead. Andy Waterworth ran with the ball down the right hand side, he crossed and Gary Browne connected to tuck the ball into the back of the net. Five minutes later Waterworth himself had the ball in the net, only for the goal to be disallowed for off side.

At this stage manager Kirk introduced a young Botswanan trialist by the name of Maano. On seventy-five minutes he was fouled just outside the penalty area. Browne stepped up and fired the resultant free kick home for goal number two, a great strike. Browne nearly completed his hat-trick on eighty minutes but his shot was well saved. Andy Waterworth also failed to add to the scoreline a minute from time when after a good run on goal the keeper again saved his shot. In stoppage time the youngster Maano produced a superb pass to Darren Armour whose goal bound shot was handled on the line resulting in a penalty. Maano was given the honour, unfortunately his well struck shot was pushed out by the keeper with the young trialist just failing to connect with the rebound.

Highlights this evening included the performance of the previously mentioned midfield general Andy Kilmartin, Gary Browne who just looks a quality player and the ever reliable central defensive pairing of Johnny Magee and the rock, Paul Muir. The Whites now play Banbridge at Crystal Park, Banbridge on Saturday as we move towards the start of the new season.

Full-time 0 - 2

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Match report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks) Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Neil Partridge and David Hunter

Match Report from Neil Partridge

In their penultimate pre-season game Lisburn Distillery had a hard fought win against Banbridge Town this afternoon.

The Whites came up against a hard working and physical side who forced them to fight for the full ninety minutes to come out on top.The game began with Banbridge penning Lisburn Distillery into their own half for much of the opening ten minutes, the home side not allowing their opponents time on the ball, closing them down at every opportunity.

Stuart Thompson had the opening chance for Distillery on eleven minutes but unfortunately he blasted his effort high and wide. A minute later a long ball out of the Whites' defence was met by Gary Browne who beat the off-side trap, but his cross just evaded Mark Cooling coming in at the back post. On thirteen minutes Browne laid the ball off to the incoming Peter McCann, on the right, who shot wide when well placed.

Browne was featuring in most of the Whites' attacks and finally on sixteen minutes he was responsible for Lisburn Distillery taking the lead.Defender Johnny Magee put through a ball over the top for Browne to latch onto and loop a shot over the home keeper into the net, despite Banbridge's protests for off-side. Unfortunately Lisburn Distillery lost defender Stuart Thompson to injury on the half-hour forcing manager Paul Kirk into a defensive reshuffle. The home side kept battling away and keeper David Wilton was forced to be alert with some crucial saves on several occasions. The home side were unlucky on thirty-three minutes with Paul Muir coming to the rescue having to clear a shot off his line with Wilton on this occasion beaten.

Half-time 0 - 1

The second half was slow to sparkle. On fifty-six minutes trialist Maano produced a superb pass to Browne in the centre, he unleashed a well struck shot on goal, the home keeper managed to push the ball out only for the incoming Rezai to push his own shot into the keeper's hands.Banbridge replied a minute later with a well struck free kick from their left back which went just wide. On sixty minutes substitute Lee Mercer crossed for Waterworth to lay the ball off for Browne who again forced a good stop from the keeper. Peter McCann failed to increase the lead on seventy minutes when his long range drive sailed over the
bar, a minute later McCann also failed to connect with a Browne cross from the right across the front of the goal.

On seventy minutes a rather soft challenge in the box on Browne resulted in the referee pointing to the penalty spot, Browne dusted himself down to slam the
ball home for both his and the Whites' second goal. Maano showed some good vision on seventy-eight minutes when his pass to Rezai was curled
just wide by the midfielder. Lisburn Distillery's final effort came eight minutes from time when Maano showed some good control on the ball, but unfortunately he sent his strike just wide.

Full-time 0 - 2

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Lisburn Distillery concluded their pre-season campaign with a masterful 9-0 victory against junior side PSNI in a one sided match at Newforge Lane in a game where the hosts only managed one shot on target in the entire 90 minutes.

The game started off evenly and for the first 23 minutes there was no sign of the goal avalanche that was to come although during that time neither side stamped its' authority on the game. A sea change however started to come about on 23 minutes when Andrew Waterworth played a delightful through ball to the incoming Gary Browne who hammered the ball home from 12 yards.

The Whites upped the tempo after that but on 28 mins PSNI created their only chance of the game when a direct free kick was well held by Lisburn Distillery keeper Philip Matthews. Six minutes later and the Whites went 2-0 up when an Aaron Johnston effort was saved by the home keeper, the rebound from Browne was then cleared off the line and Waterworth was on hand to bundle the ball over the line and make it 2-0. By this stage the Whites were playing some delightful fluent football and it was therefore not surprising when a third goal came on 38 minutes when some great play from Waterworth resulted in the ball being moved out wide for Browne and in turn his cross could only be parried by the home keeper and young Mark Cooling was on hand to drive home the third. It's worth pointing out at this time that young Cooling had a top class game and he has certainly done no harm at all to his chances of making the first team for the opening game of the season at Larne this forthcoming Saturday. Indeed it was Cooling in the thick of things once again on 42 minutes as his perfect pass picked out Browne once again on the wing and once again a great cross from the ex-Glentoran player caused chaos in the PSNI defence allowing Waterworth's powerful shot made it 4-0

Second half saw the Whites continue with their fine form with it taking only two minutes for the four goals to become five as Aaron Johnston headed the ball goalward and the same player was then on hand to be the first to react when the PSNI keeper made a great save to keep out his initial effort.The sixth goal of this one sided rout was soon to follow when on 53 minutes a great cross from Johnson was finished off by Andy Kilmartin and a seventh almost followed only two minutes later when young Botswanan trialist Maano made a great run but dragged his final shot inches wide of the home goal.

Johnston gained his second and the Whites seventh on 67 minutes and goal number eight arrived on 80 minutes when substitute Nathan McConnell fired home following a fine cut back from Waterworth who in turn had been put in by a great through ball from James bell. Eight - nil would have been amazing in anyone's books but Andy Waterworth was determined to ensure he got a hat-trick and he achieved that very task on 84 minutes when he headed home a pin point Bell cross.

The Whites played some superb football on the night and the hope now is that this high standard came be carried forward to Inver Park for the first competitive game of the season this weekend.

Team: Matthews, Youle, Muir, Alderdice, Ferguson, Kilmartin, Rezai, Cooling, Johnston, Waterworth, Browne.
Subs: McMenamim for Youle, Bell for Rezai, Manno for Cooling, McConnell for Waterworth, (Peter) McCann for Kilmartin, Wilton for Matthews
Further subs: Waterworth for Brown, Youle for Muir, Rezai for Johnston

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Match report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks) Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Edward White and David Hunter

Match Report from Edward White

Despite having no less than five first team regulars out of this match due to suspensions and injuries, Lisburn Distillery will still have left Inver Park disappointed with only a point from a match that was theirs for the taking.

The game started fairly evenly and it was the home side who came closest to breaking the deadlock early on when a well placed cross streaked across the Lisburn Distillery six-yard area but thankfully on this occasion there was no-one on hand to tuck the ball into the gaping net. After this the Whites slowly started to gain the upper hand with Waterworth and Browne both creating half chances in the space of two minutes, neither though caused a major panic in the home defence.

On 26 minutes the Whites created their best opening of the game that far when a well worked move which spread the breadth of the pitch was centred into the box and from the resulting half-clearance Andy Kilmartin hammered in a half -volley which was only narrowly wide. Both sides created a few minor chances after this but if truth be told all of the attacking play on display seemed to lack any real bite although ex-Lisburn Distillery player Marty Verner should have done better when put through on 29 mins and then ten minutes later Larne beat the offside trap but Marty Hunter opted for a chip shot as opposed to power and Phil Matthews in the Lisburn Distillery goal was able to grasp the ball above his head.

Three minutes before the break, another decent effort for the home side was saved by Matthews but from the resulting break Lisburn Distillery went on a counter attack and the nett result was an opening goal to celebrate. A Michael Ferguson cross was met perfectly by debutant midfielder Julian Ward and his looping header dipped into the Larne net, a perfect way to celebrate an opening game against one's former side and Ward was delighted to record the strike.

One nil then at the break and the Whites were looking comfortable, especially in a second half which didn’t even look like igniting until the last fifteen minutes. Larne had a great chance to equalise on 78 mins when Verner missed a decent chance in the penalty area and then on 80 mins Andrew Waterworth had the chance to make it 2-0 and to make it game set and match to the visitors. He had raced clear of a static defence, evaded a final challenge by Larne central defender Padraig Gollogley and then rounded the keeper. However, the ball had been dragged wide as a result of trying to outwit the ‘keeper and when eventually the shot came in it went crashing against the outside of the post instead of bursting the net. This missed chance proved pivotal in the outcome of this game, on 83 minutes Larne were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, the ball was floated in, the Whites' defence seemed to switch off and Aaron Black was on hand to stab the ball home and level the game. Despite some chances falling after this, neither side deserved to win the game and the result leaves both teams locked together in the group table with a single point.

Larne - Keenan, Cleary, R Black, A Black, Hamilton, Gollogley, Fulton, Corrigan, Hunter, Verner, Lynch. Subs : Robinson, Dickinson, Rafferty, Rhys

Lisburn Distillery - Matthews, Youle, Alderdice, McMenamin, Ferguson, Muir, Kilmartin, Bell, Waterworth, Browne, Ward. Subs Rezai, McLaughlin, McConnell, Cooling, Wilton

Referee: Adrian Ball

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Match report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks) Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Stanley Mann, Jonathan Irwin and David Hunter

Match Report from Stanley Mann

Despite a much improved performance from last week, Lisburn Distillery were unable to make long periods of possession, and control, pay here at New Grosvenor.

Glentoran got the points thanks to two goals from Gary Hamilton, one in each half, but that only partially tells the tale of a game where the Whites were every bit as good if not better than their east Belfast counterparts. Michael Dougherty was down inside the opening minutes to save Julian Ward's twenty yard shot.On 13 minutes, Andrew Waterworth was up-ended by Colin Nixon and Gary Browne then saw his free-kick blocked by the Glentoran wall.

Glentoran though took the lead in their very first serious advance on goal, Nixon got down the right flank to sent a low cross into the box, it wasn't cut out and Hamilton back in the fray after earlier treatment following a head injury had the relatively asking task of firing home (23 mins). The visitors threatened five minutes after that but that apart Paul Kirk's men were well in this game. Browne fired wide (29 mins), Dougherty fumbled a Paul Muir free-kick on the line (31 mins), Peter McCann fired wide (33 mins) and then the Whites increased the heat with three corners in a row before Andy Waterworth hit the side netting after get round Dougherty on 40 minutes.

The breakthrough finally came on 43 minutes from an unlikely source, fullback Dean Youle popping up to finish Waterworth's cross in style, steering his header wide of defenders and into the goal.Muir then fired over in first-half injury time to round off a good half for the Whites.

After the break, it was Glentoran who threatened to increase their lead; a deflection saw David Scullion's drive go over for a corner (49 mins) and Kyle Neill saw his free-kick dip just over the bar on 54 minutes.Two minutes later the Glens took the lead, Neill's corner was somehow allowed to cross the goal-mouth and Hamilton's downward header bounced down and up into the goal past Phil Matthews.

Johnny Magee had a long range effort comfortably held by Dougherty (61 mins) before the game went flat. At this stage the Whites were virtually playing a passing game in the Glentoran half, stringing numerous passes together, but although many of Glentoran clearances enabled them to build up more attacks Dougherty had a quiet game until 93rd minute when Waterworth's header looked goal-bound but Dougherty did well to reach back and flick the ball over from underneath the cross bar to deny the Whites a share of the spoils.

The Whites need a victory at Armagh next week to get back into contention for qualifying out of Group B.

Lisburn Distillery: Matthews, Youle, J.McMenamin, Muir, Magee (Ferguson 67), P.McCann, J.Ward (Armour 81), R.McCann (Johnston 75), Kilmartin, Waterworth, Browne. Subs not used - McConnell, Cooling

Glentoran: Dougherty, Nixon, Leeman, Simpson, Neill, Scullion (Hamill 85), Fordyce, Carson (M.Ward 80), Hill (BJ McMenamin 66), Hamilton, Halliday Subs Morgan, Smyth

Referee: Adrian McCourt

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Match report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks) Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Edward White and Jonathan Irwin

Match Report from Edward White

With Lisburn Distillery going into this game trailing Larne by three points in the CIS Cup Group table, manager Paul Kirk was quite right in his pre-match comments when he declared that a win was vital if the club was to progress in this season's competition. Thankfully on the day the side delivered the much needed win although it was only in a superb ten minute spell shortly into the second half that the Whites were able to assert their authority.

The first half had been fairly even with both sides creating half chances although neither team had been able to gain an upper hand. Armagh had probably the best chance of the opening period when on 20 mins a free kick was only half-cleared by the visitors' defence and the ball was returned back into the Lisburn Distillery area with only the slightest of touches being required to send it goal-ward. Thankfully however. none of the Armagh strike force reacted quickly enough and the ball ended up narrowly missing the visitor's post. Shortly after that Lisburn Distillery keeper Phil Matthews had to be at his best to tip over a goalbound effort which had resulted from a poor clearance by the visiting defence.

The Whites also had chances in a tight first half, Jim McMenamim shot narrowly wide from 20 yards whilst Andrew Waterworth had a number of shots on the home goal although none of them really troubled the home defence. After a goal-less first half, there was little to suggest the game would change so quickly in the second half. It's not sure whether it was Paul Kirk's half time team talk or the strength of the tea provided by the Armagh tea lady but either way the Whites came out like men possessed and within 10 minutes the game was as good as over. The half was only two minutes old when Waterworth picked the ball up a good 25 yards out from goal before unleashing a thunderbolt of a strike which found its way sweetly into the top right hand corner of the home goal.

The home side heads seemed to drop at that point and worse was to come for them on 52 minutes when Gary Browne was hauled down in the box and the visitors were given a penalty. Browne picked himself up and duly tucked the ball home, 2-0 to the Whites. Five minutes later it was 3-0 when following some delightful passing football featuring Peter McCann and Gary Browne, a slide-rule pass put in young defender Dean Youle who calmly picked his spot to fire home into the corner past the stranded Stuart Addis in the Armagh goal. The home side did pull one back on 65 mins when, following a goalmouth scramble, Shane Coney was on hand to stab the ball home. The home side's heads lifted slightly after that but despite all their efforts they didn't really trouble the Lisburn Distillery defence much after that and the Whites ran out comfortable 3-1 winners. Indeed could have made the score-line even more comfortable had it not been for two fine saves by Addis from Nathan McConnell and then Darren Armour.

Team: Matthews, Youle, Magee, McMenamin, Muir, P.McCann, R.McCann, Kilmartin, Ward, Waterworth, Browne
Subs: Johnston (for R.McCann), McConnell (for Browne), Armour (for Waterworth), Ferguson, Buchanan

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Match images and report (reproduced with permission and thanks) Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Edward White, David Hunter and Jonathan Irwin

Match Report from Edward White

If Victor Meldrew had been writing this report he couldn't have used any better phrase to describe this game than his classic line of "I don't believe