|
M01
|
220907
|
Coleraine v Lisburn Distillery
|
1-4
|
Waterworth
2, Browne 2 (1 pen)
|
|
|
M02
|
290907
|
Lisburn Distillery v Newry City
|
1-0
|
Muir
|
|
|
M03
|
061007
|
Glenavon
v Lisburn Distillery
|
2-3
|
Waterworth,
Browne, Ward
|
|
|
M04
|
131007
|
Lisburn
Distillery v Glentoran
|
1-2
|
Waterworth
|
|
|
MO5
|
201007
|
Crusaders
v Lisburn Distillery
|
1-3
|
Cooling,
Armour, Allen
|
|
|
M06
|
271007
|
Lisburn
Distillery v Cliftonville
|
1-2
|
Browne
(pen)
|
|
| M07 |
031107 |
Linfield v Lisburn Distillery
|
2-1
|
P.McCann
|
|
| M08 |
101107 |
Lisburn
Distillery v Portadown
|
1-0
|
P.McCann
|
|
| M09 |
241107 |
Armagh City v Lisburn Distillery
|
4-1
|
McConnell
|
|
| M10 |
011207 |
Lisburn Distillery v Ballymena United
|
A-A
|
game
abandoned
|
|
| M11 |
071207 |
Dungannon Sw v Lisburn Distillery
|
0-3
|
Browne
3
|
|
| M12 |
151207 |
Lisburn
Distillery v Limavady United
|
5-0
|
Browne,
Waterworth, Muir, Buchanan, Shaw
|
|
| M10 |
181207 |
Lisburn
Distillery v Ballymena Utd
|
0-2 |
-
|
|
| M13 |
221207 |
Lisburn Distillery v Larne
|
2-0
|
Browne
2
|
|
| M14 |
261207 |
Donegal Celtic v Lisburn Distillery
|
1-2
|
Browne,
Waterworth
|
|
| M15 |
291207 |
Lisburn Distillery v Institute
|
0-0
|
-
|
|
| M16 |
010108 |
Newry City v Lisburn Distillery
|
1-4
|
Waterworth
(2), McConnell, Cooling
|
|
| M17 |
050108 |
Lisburn Distillery v Coleraine
|
P-P
|
-
|
Postponed
|
| M18 |
190108 |
Lisburn Distillery v Glenavon |
0-0
|
-
|
|
| M19 |
260108 |
Glentoran v Lisburn Distillery |
2-2
|
Waterworth,
Kingsberry
|
|
|
M17
|
290108
|
Lisburn
Distillery v Coleraine
|
2-0
|
Armour,
R.McCann
|
|
| M20 |
020208 |
Cliftonville v Lisburn Distillery |
2-2
|
McConnell,
R.McCann
|
|
| M21 |
160208 |
Lisburn Distillery v Crusaders |
1-0
|
McConnell
|
|
| M22 |
230208 |
Lisburn Distillery v Armagh City
|
1-0
|
R
McCann
|
|
| M23 |
080308 |
Portadown v Lisburn Distillery
|
0-1
|
Muir
|
|
| M24 |
150308 |
Lisburn Distillery v Linfield |
0-0
|
|
|
| M25 |
220308 |
Ballymena
Utd v Lisburn Distillery |
2-2
|
Armour
(pen), McConnell
|
|
| M26 |
250308 |
Lisburn Distillery v Dungannon Sw |
1-1
|
Armour
|
|
| M27 |
050408 |
Limavady Utd v Lisburn Distillery
|
1-2
|
Buchanan,
Browne
|
|
| M28 |
120408 |
Lisburn
Distillery v Donegal Celtic |
0-1
|
|
|
| M29 |
190408 |
Larne v Lisburn Distillery |
1-2
|
Kilmartin,
Browne
|
|
| M30 |
260408 |
Institute v Lisburn Distillery |
0-2
|
Allen
(2)
|
|
Latest
Official League Table
|
|
220907
- CPL01 Carnegie Premier League - Coleraine 1 Lisburn Distillery
4 - Match Report
|
|
Match
report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks)
Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Terence Mann,
David Hunter and Jonathan Irwin
Match
Report from Terence Mann
"Four-midable
Whites" was a popular headline after Lisburn Distillery
started their Carnegie Premier League campaign in style, running
out 4-1 winners against Coleraine thanks to a brace each from
Andrew Waterworth and Gary Browne.
It
was an impressive performance and after Jody Toland had an
early chance for the visitors, the ball ran away from him
after he had broken through, the Whites applied all the pressure.
Mark Cooling and Gary Browne both had efforts before skipper
Wayne Buchanan sent a header past Davy O'Hare which crashed
back out of the crossbar on 23 minutes.
Coleraine
were being stretched and on 30 minutes the Whites took the
lead thanks to a super finish from Waterworth.The ball was
knocked in behind the Bannsiders defence and the number nine
blasted the ball past O'Hare to give his side a deserved lead.
At this stage there was only one team in it but then, out
of the blue, Coleraine equalised.Stephen Carson got a cross
in from the left and Trevor Hutchinson slid in to put the
ball into the net.That gave the home side a lift in the fortieth
minute and they finished the half strongly.
Seven
minutes after the break the Whites took the lead again - Waterworth
was sent crashing to the ground as he was actually going away
from goal and Browne confidently sent the spot kick into the
corner as O'Hare went in the opposite direction. Two-one up
and a good platform to build from, but David Patton then put
the ball wide at Matthews near post (60 mins) and McCallion
fired wide (64 mins) for Coleraine before the Whites netted
their third and never looked back.Substitute Julian Ward broke
down the right and his low-cross was superbly finished off
by Browne who smashed the ball on the volley, into the net,
from eight yards out.
That
was that on seventy minutes and it looked to have killed off
the home side, but the Whites had other ideas and weren't
content to stop there. On seventy-seven minutes John Neill
headed a Buchanan header off the line at the near post before
Waterworth netted the goal of the game on 82 minutes. He broke
down the left, defender Kyle McVey in his wake, before cutting
inside to bury the ball into the top of the net to round off
an excellent league start for the Whites.
There
is a long road ahead, the Whites however sit proudly on top
of the league tonight.Incidentally, the Whites last won here
4-1 towards the start of the 2002-2003 season, that season
they finished third - that would probably be acceptable at
the end of this season but maybe not if performances like
this are the order of the day!
Coleraine
- O'Hare, Clanachan (Watt 86), Cassidy, McLaughlin, McVey,
Neill (Anderson 78), Hutchinson, D. Patton, Tolan (Whitehead
86), McCallion, Carson. Subs not used: Gaston, Heneghan
Lisburn
Distillery - Matthews, McMenamin (Thompson 60), Ferguson,
Ryan McCann, Buchanan, Muir, Kilmartin (Ward 76), Peter McCann,
Waterworth (Armour 84), Browne, Cooling. Subs not used - Magee,
Allen.
Referee:
Alan Black (Antrim)
Images
strictly copyright - David Hunter and Jonathan Irwin

Official
Club and First Team Sponsor of Lisburn Distillery
|
290907
- CPL02 Carnegie Premier League - Lisburn Distillery 1 Newry
City 0 - Match Report
|
|
Match
report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks)
Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Edward White,
Jonathan Irwin and David Hunter
Match
Report from Edward White
The
Muir the merrier was doubtless the feeling on the minds of
the Lisburn Distillery support on Saturday as defender Paul
Muir was on hand again to score the winning goal and in doing
so keep up the Whites 100% start to the new league season.
This
game had started off as a clash between first and second placed
in the table and based on the level of play in the opening
forty-five minutes it was the team who entered the game on
top of the league who seemed set to retain their lofty league
position. Lisburn Distillery dominated the opening forty-five
minutes from the off and had their first clear cut chance
after twelve minutes when, following a Newry corner, a quick
break allowed Andy Waterworth to use his pace to outstrip
the visitors defence but then, just as he was about to pull
the trigger, one of the Newry defenders who had rushed back
was able to get a touch on the ball and the end result was
that the shot was deflected onto the side of the post instead
of going in.
Lisburn
Distillery were well in control by this time but Newry were
almost allowed a chance when keeper Phil Matthews made a dreadful
throw-out and had to rely on Michael Ferguson to clear up
the resulting threat. On 28 minutes a minor melee developed
in the centre of the pitch when Richard Clarke received a
blow to the head whenever both he and Andy Kilmartin jumped
for the ball. The Newry players felt Kilmartin had acted outside
of the law by using his elbow and the resultant melee saw
a lot of players involved but thankfully no major talking
points resulted. The Whites' next chance fell to Andrew Waterworth
on 30 minutes, with the hard working striker seeing his effort
parried away by visiting goalkeeper, Robert Robinson. Lisburn
Distillery were the team on the up at this time but didn't
have anything to show for their efforts but this was to change
a couple of minutes later when a through ball from Kilmartin
sent Waterworth clear, a Newry defender clipped his heels,
not once but twice, and the referee gave a free kick out wide
on the edge of the box.
Up stepped Gary Browne, his inch perfect cross was met by
an unstoppable Paul Muir header to put the Whites 1-0 up.
This was big Paul's third goal of the season, all three of
them coming from powerful headers and hopefully we will see
this continue as the season develops. Just as half time approached
former Whiteman James "Bo" Willis went down after
a fifty-fifty challenge and the big striker appeared to pick
up a major knee injury - as a result he was stretchered off
just before the break.
The
second half saw Newry play with much more urgency as they
tried to get back into the game but with Willis missing up
front, their attacks seemed to lack that cutting edge. They
did however have a clear chance on 72 minutes when the ball
broke loose to Steven Ferguson but he somehow managed to screw
his shot wide of the target. Just before that Peter McCann
should really have sealed the game for the home side missing
a good chance from 12 yards out following some good work on
the wing from Ferguson. Nathan McConell then almost had an
early impact when, minutes after coming on as sub, he jinked
well into the box and unleashed a decent strike only to see
it turned aside by the visiting keeper.
And so the Whites held on to win 1-0 with a double bonus being
that this was only their second clean sheet against senior
opposition this season which can only build confidence in
the defence. Six points then from two games and although results
elsewhere saw Lisburn Distillery slip to second place in the
table it is still a very impressive start to the new league
campaign
Lisburn
Distillery - Matthews, Thompson, Buchanan, Muir, M.Ferguson,
P.McCann, R.McCann, Kilmartin, Cooling (Ward 63), Waterworth,
Browne (McConnell 83). Subs not used - McMenamin, Dixon, Allen
Newry
City - Robinson, Hudson, E.Friars, Curran, McDonnell,
Clarke, Donegan, S.Ferguson (Anderson 76), Willis (Garrett
45), S.Friars (Prigent 84), King. Subs not used - Keegan,
Smith

Official
Club and First Team Sponsor of Lisburn Distillery
|
061007
- CPL03 Carnegie Premier League - Glenavon 2 Lisburn Distillery
3 - Match Report
|
|
Match
report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks)
Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Terence Mann,
David Hunter and Jonathan Irwin
Match
Report from Terence Mann
Don't
be misled, the headline after today's round
of Carnegie Premier League games was a simple one - "Whites
go top" - and to do that they had to come back from
2-1 down against a battling Glenavon side that was three minutes
away from a draw, before Julian Ward fired home the winner.
The
game eventually came to life when the Whites took the lead
on 36 minutes. Peter McCann broke down the left past Adrian
Harper, Paul Rice came out to block but the ball came back
out to Gary Browne who then went round the keeper.With two
defenders between him and the goal he laid a simple pass across
the area and Andrew Waterworth had a rather easy finish on
this occasion, firing into the net from ten yards out.
The
home side came back though within five minutes - a foul was
conceded on the left hand side, Gerard McMahon sent the kick
into the box, centre-back Gavin McDonnell headed the ball
down and his fellow centre-back Johnny Cowan slotted home
from close range. This gave the home side a lift and the Whites
also then lost young midfielder Mark Cooling with a head injury,
Julian Ward coming on as his replacement.
The
Whites were almost two-down a matter of few minutes into the
second-half, the impressive Eamon Murray was making his mark
in right midfield for Colin Malone's side and he cut inside
before sending his shot across the across the goal but it
bounced back off the post and was cleared. The home fans disappointment
evaporated on 49 minutes though as a long range effrot from
Neill Gawley stayed low and went in past a bemused Phil Matthews.
It
was nip and tuck after that, Waterworth putting a header wide
of the target following a great cross from the right.Glenavon
still kept pushing forward and then Ward was sent to crashing
a few yards outside the box. Browne stepped up, he weighed
up the scenario before comprehensively beating Rice with the
free-kick for the equaliser on 70 minutes,
At
that stage both sides would probably have settled for the
draw, but they both kept going and it was the industry and
skill of Peter McCann that created the dramatic winner three
minutes from the end of normal time. He beat Barry Meehan
at left back before coming inside - as McDonnell stretched
to challenge, McCann laid the ball inside to Ward who swivelled
to shoot home from close range to put the Whites top and stun
Glenavon.
With
Paul Kirk missing following his hernia operation, assistant
manager Ronnie Cromie was delighted to see the Whites go top,
his only regret was that now wasn't the end of April! It's
first versus second again at New Grosvenor next week with
the visit of Glentoran, but, as the table sits tonight, Lisburn
Distillery top it thanks to a battling come back that says
much about the character within the side at present.
Team line-ups
to follow

Official
Club and First Team Sponsor of Lisburn Distillery
|
131007
- CPL04 - Carnegie Premier League - Lisburn Distillery 1 Glentoran
2 - Match Report
|
|
Match
report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks)
Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Edward White,
Jonathan Irwin and David Hunter
Match
Report from Edward White
The
much anticipated top of the table clash between Lisburn Distillery
and Glentoran promised much but in the end delivered little
for the home support as the visitors inflicted a fourth defeat
of the season against the Whites - in so doing they leap-frogged
them to top place in the league table.
As
manager Paul Kirk has pointed out on several previous occasions,
the secret to beating the bigger sides is to keep a defensively
tight ship and when goal scoring chances come along make sure
you take them. Put simply against Glentoran the Whites failed
on both counts with the nett result being another defeat and
an end to their unbeaten start to the league in the process.
The
game was as good as lost as early as the seventh minute when
the Lisburn Distillery defence seemed to take on the role
of waxwork models as Paul Leeman was allowed (for the second
time this season) to stroll into the heart of the home penalty
area before powering in a close range header from Kyle Neill's
corner. This scenario has happened on too many occasions already
this season and needs to be sorted out urgently if the side
are to progress as hoped for.
The
Whites did have a gilt-edged chance on 14 minutes to level
the game when a great through ball from Peter McCann saw Nathan
McConell one on one with Dougherty in the Glentoran goal but
a weak effort meant that the former Lisburn Distillery custodian
came out on top and the chance was gone. A couple of minutes
later, Lady Luck almost smiled on the Whites when a Paul Muir
free kick was deflected goalward by a Glentoran defender but
once again Dougherty was able to gather easily. After that
it was Glentoran who looked the most likely to score with
Hamilton unlucky when his shot cannoned off the Distillery
cross bar and went over
Lisburn
Distillery however held on and hopes were high that they could
lift their game in the second half, however it was not to
be and on 63 minutes the game was put beyond them as following
a good cross from David Scullion, defender Michael Ferguson
attempted to intercept and was unlucky to see his effort completely
deceive Phil Matthews and end off in the back of the his team's
own net.
Lisburn
Distillery seemed dead and buried but they were given a lifeline
on 69 minutes when referee Mark Courtney gave them a penalty
following a Kyle Neill tackle on Andy Waterworth. Waterworth
himself stepped up and blasted the resulting spot kick home
and a glimmer of hope re-appeared. As it was however, despite
the introduction of the lively Curtis Allen and Mark Cooling,
the Whites couldn't make another breakthrough and the Glens
went home with the points.
It wasn't a pretty game by any stretch of the imagination,
Glentoran came and put on a solid professional performance
and the Whites simply didn't have the craft or skill to break
them down on the day. Interestingly enough the Whites have
now lost four games in all competitions this season and all
four of those defeats have been at the hands of Glentoran
and until we learn to start turning those losses into at the
very least draws then we might have to wait a little longer
to get our hands on some much sought after silverware.
Lisburn
Distillery - Matthews, Magee, Ferguson (Johnston 89),
P.McCann, Buchanan, Muir, Kilmartin, R McCann, Waterworth,
McConnell (Allen 66), J.Ward (Cooling 78). Subs not used:
Youle, Wright.
Glentoran
- Dougherty, Nixon, Neill, Leeman, Fordyce, S.Ward, Halliday,
Hamilton, Scullion, Fitzgerald (Berry 72), M.Ward (Hamill
90). Subs not used: Morris, Hill, Morgan,

Official
Club and First Team Sponsor of Lisburn Distillery
|
201007
- CPL05 - Carnegie Premier League - Crusaders 1 Lisburn Distillery
3 - Match Report
|
|
Match
report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks)
Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Edward White,
Jonathan Irwin and David Hunter
Match
Report from Edward White
It
was a nice pleasant October Saturday afternoon as Lisburn
Distillery chose to kick off this game against their old friends,
Crusaders. The ball was placed on the centre spot, the referee
blew his whistle to commence proceedings and play commenced
- and by the time you have spent twelve seconds reading my
opening two lines of introduction to this game the Whites
were one- nil up!
In
a blistering start, fans were still finding their way to their
seats when a through-ball found Lisburn Distillery forward
Andy Waterworth out on the wing and his pinpoint cross was
met perfectly by young Mark Cooling at the back post, and
his well placed header gave the Whites a perfect start. Twelve
seconds is all it took for that early lead to be gained and
with that time a new Lisburn Distillery scoring record may
have been created - well I certainly can't think of a quicker
goal in all my years of following the club although possibly
our statisticians might beg to differ?
After
that early goal the sides tended to cancel one another out
for the remainder of the first half although Phil Matthews
had to be alert to palm away a goal bound effort on 26 minutes
and then again had react well to dive at the feet of a Ryan
Tumilty as he was just about to shoot after 36 minutes. Crusaders
however weren't exerting too much pressure on the Lisburn
Distillery defence and time after time well positioned free-kicks
were being wasted by the home strike force. The Whites themselves
seldom threatened the home goal although Darren Armour was
busy constantly chasing down the Crusaders defenders. He did
however pick up a yellow card for his troubles following a
hefty challenge on an opposing player just before the half-time
break.
Armour's
persistence finally paid off however in the second half when,
on the hour, he chased down a back pass to the Crusaders goalkeeper
Greg Shannon and the attempted clearance by the home custodian
hit the advancing Armour before finding its way into the net.
Two-nil then and that second goal seemed to spark the home
side more into life as they tried to claw their way back into
the game and were only thwarted once again by some good saves
by Matthews and some hard work by the Lisburn Distillery defence.
Then
on 81 minutes it was game over, as substitute Curtis Allen
struck a free kick from 25 yards which found its' way, with
a helpful deflection, into the back of the Crusaders goal.
This was Allen's first goal for the club since joining recently
from Bournemouth and doubtless the Lisburn Distillery faithful
will be hoping that it is the first of many to come.
One
downside though to a decent performance was still to come
however, as once again, the Whites failed to claim a clean
sheet conceding an 89th minute consolation goal from a Crusaders
corner and a Darren Lockhart header which really 'keeper Phil
Matthews should have done better with.
At
full-time, it was 3-1 then to the Whites who, after this game,
are still only one point off the summit of the Carnegie Premier
League although their next league game, against Cliftonville,
be doubtless be a better test of how exactly this season is
going to pan out for the club.
Team: Matthews, Magee, Ferguson, Muir, Buchanan, P.McCann,
R.McCann, Kilmartin, Cooling, Armour, Waterworth
Subs: Allen (for Armour), Ward (for Cooling), Shaw
(for Waterworth), McMenamin, Maano,
Images
strictly copyright - David Hunter and Jonathan Irwin

Official
Club and First Team Sponsor of Lisburn Distillery
|
271007
- CPL06 - Carnegie Premier League - Lisburn Distillery 1 Cliftonville
2 - Match Report
|
|
Match
report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks)
Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Edward White,
Jonathan Irwin and David Hunter
Match
Report from Edward White
Given
the fact that both sides were chasing hard at the top end
of the Premier league table going into this game, many would
have expected an entertaining encounter but in the end fans
of both sides had to settle for a dour game where both sides
managed to cancel each other out for much of the match.
The game
had started brightly, Cliftonville were first to have an early
opening when former Lisburn Distillery player John Martin
lobbed the ball goalward only to see it rebound to safety
off the crossbar and then Phil Matthews had to be alert to
save an effort off the goal-line.At the other end Whites'
striker Gary Browne had a couple of clear openings but failed
to make the most of the opportunities when they came his way.
After
that initial flurry the game settled into one of few opportunities
with the away side coming closest to breaking the deadlock
on 27 minutes when their forward Chris Scannell found himself
one on one with the Lisburn Distillery keeper but thankfully
for the Whites the last line of defence stood firm before
diving to make a great stop with his feet. There was very
little between the sides at this time but then on 33 minutes
came the first of two substitutions that were to change the
face of the game when in-form Lisburn Distillery forward Andy
Waterworth was forced to leave the field of play due to injury.
Initially his departure didn't make much difference and indeed
only five minutes later the Whites were awarded a penalty
when Cliftonville defender Barry Johnston was adjudged to
have held Whites forward Gary Browne in the penalty area and
the home side were awarded a spot kick. Browne got up to duly
dispatch and give the home side a one goal lead which they
held onto until half time.
The second
half saw Cliftonville press hard for an equaliser but the
Whites defence was holding firm although far too much of the
game was being played in the Lisburn Distillery last third
of the pitch which was a constant cause of concern for the
home support. Then on 60 minutes that second substitution
occurred when forward Gary Browne was forced to leave the
field due to a back problem with this in turn meaning the
Whites had only recognised forward on the pitch in Curtis
Allen and even he was only in his fourth game for the club.
Lisburn Distillery therefore had little option but to try
hold a tight midfield but this game plan was unravelled on
69 minutes when Cliftonville equalised through a neat finish
from substitute Stephen O'Neill.
It was
all Cliftonville at this time and although they were not creating
that many opportunities they were to go on to lift all three
points when a complete mix-up between Whites' keeper Phil
Matthews and skipper Wayne Buchanan allowed another former
Distillery player, Mark Holland, to pick up the loose ball
and comfortably slide the ball into the net.
Without their usually experienced frontline the Whites never
looked like clawing the deficit back and in the end the home
side left the pitch knowing a game that could have been won
had been thrown away. Lisburn Distillery supporters know that
if the side is to make a genuine challenge for honours this
season then they really do need to up their game when they
play the better sides in the league, this game proved they
have still a way to go to reach those aspirations.
Team: Matthews, Magee, Youle, Muir, Buchanan, P.McCann,
R.McCann, Ward, Cooling, Browne, Waterworth
Subs: Allen (for Waterworth), Shaw (for Browne), Kilmartin
(for Ward), McMenamin, Thompson

Official
Club and First Team Sponsor of Lisburn Distillery
|
031107
- CPL07 - Carnegie Premier League - Linfield 2 Lisburn Distillery
1 - Match Report
|
|
Match
report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks)
Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Edward White,
Jonathan Irwin and David Hunter
Match
Report from Edward White
Considering
that the Whites had been to play Linfield at Windsor Park
only some ten days previous and had been hammered 5-1 there
was probably only one priority for the return trip, that being
to leave with our pride intact and it would be fair to say
that we achieved just that after a decent display.
Whereas
last time Lisburn Distillery had came and attempted to play
their usual passing game of football against Linfield, this
time it was clear that on this occasion that there was a definite
change in the game plan as the Whites arrived with a formation
which came with only one thing in mind, to stifle the Linfield
attack and to hopefully hit our hosts on the break. The game
plan started well enough as, despite a lot of Linfield pressure,
the Lisburn Distillery defence stood resolute and this remained
the case until the 25th minute when Mark Dickson was on hand
to score after the Whites had failed to clear a Linfield corner
which in turn allowed Glenn Ferguson to set up Dickson for
the opener.
Prior
to that Linfield had created quite a few openings with Lisburn
Distillery being restricted to a third minute Peter McCann
effort which was saved by Alan Mannus. After Linfield had
scored, Lisburn Distillery continued to stick to their initial
game plan although it was soon becoming clear that if they
were to get anything out of the game then a change of tactics
would be required.
That
change came about at half-time with the Whites entering the
second half with a switch of tactics and a renewed determination
to claw their way back into the game. An early reward for
the change was almost forthcoming when Gary Browne and Stephen
Shaw interacted well and the Linfield defence had to be alert
to stop Browne getting a shot away. Then from the resulting
corner Ryan McCann's effort was saved by Mannus in the home
goal. Then, with only four minutes played in the second half,
the Whites did manage to draw level when, following some good
work by Shaw, the ball was crossed into the Linfield penalty
area and when Mannus went to claim it, a challenge from Julian
Ward forced him into dropping the ball and Peter McCann was
on hand to slide the ball home to tie the game. As expected
this goal drew a response from the home side although it must
be said Lisburn Distillery were giving as good as they got
but then all those efforts were knocked back when once again,
for the umpteenth time in the last couple of months, they
were unable to defend an opposition corner and Peter Thompson
rose to head the ball home and restore the Linfield lead.
The
Whites,
to their credit, didn't let that set back affect them though
and they continued to press forward with a decent effort by
debutant James Wright being well saved by Mannus in the home
goal and then on 84 minutes the Whites were denied a strong
penalty claim when Nathan McConnell was sent tumbling down
in the Linfield box but the referee waved play on. Lisburn
Distillery fans were still remonstrating over the lack of
the penalty being awarded when Glenn Ferguson then appeared
to be tripped in the visitors' penalty area and on this occasion
it was a sigh of relief as the referee once again opted to
play on. After that the Whites created one more chance through
a Paul Muir header but in the end, although it was a much
improved performance, they were unable to take anything away
for their efforts.
Team: Matthews, McMenamin, Thompson, Muir, Buchanan,
P.McCann, R.McCann, Ward, Wright, Shaw, Browne
Subs: McConnell (for Wright), Kilmartin, Youle, Murdoch,
Johnston
and
to add to the debate on Lisburn Distillery claims for a second-half
penalty, here are two additional perspectives.
All
images are strictly copyright

Official
Club and First Team Sponsor of Lisburn Distillery
|
101107
- CPL08 - Carnegie Premier League - Lisburn Distillery 1 Portadown
0 - Match Report
|
|
Match
report and images (reproduced with permission and thanks)
Copyright Lisburn Distillery.net, Edward White,
Jonathan Irwin and David Hunter
Match
Report from Edward White
In a week
where the best snooker players in the world had been in the
province to compete for the Northern Ireland trophy, it was
possibly appropriate that the green baize of New Grosvenor
also saw a game which was very much affected by a number of
fouls and the constant use of the colours of red and yellow.
The
game had kicked off without any hint of the excitement to
come and for the majority of the first half the two sides
tended to cancel one another out although both sides had a
few chances to take a lead. Portadown has the first chance
of note when Phil Matthews fluffed a clearance on nine minutes
but thankfully the Ports were unable to capitalise and then
returning former Whiteman, Conor Hagan, almost scored from
a corner but he saw his header go agonisingly wide of the
upright in the 26th minute. Jim McMenamin was first to see
yellow and then Ryan McCann followed on 27 minutes as the
Whites tried to up the tempo. However these efforts were to
be in vain, firstly Gary Browne (30 minutes) and then Andy
Waterworth both tested visiting keeper David Miskelly who
reacted well on both occasions to keep the match goal-less.
The tempo had however arisen by that stage and with it the
attitude of the players with some tough challenges coming
in from both sides although as the half time whistle was sounded
the game remained without a goal to report.
The
second half started where the first had left off with passions
a little high and a tempo to match and on 52 mins a breakthrough
almost came when a Gary Browne free kick evaded the Portadown
defence but once again there was no-one in a Whites' shirt
to help it home. Seven minutes later and the real story of
the game began to be written, it appeared that Portadown midfielder
Michael Collins had spoken out of turn and referee Adrian
McCourt duly produced a yellow card followed immediately by
the first red card of the game much to the disbelief of his
Portadown comrades. Thirty minutes were then left on the clock
and with the Whites having a one man advantage things had
started to turn the way of the home side but then, only two
minutes later, Hagan clattered into Stuart Thompson and, with
referee McCourt ready producing another yellow card, Lisburn
Distillery midfielder Ryan McCann stupidly decided to take
the law into his own hands by grabbing hold of the Portadown
players shirt, leaving the referee no option but to give him
a second yellow and subsequent red to leave the teams once
again equally poised at ten a side for the remaining 28 minutes.
Both
sides were really working hard for what would probably be
a deciding goal but then on 71 minutes Portadown imploded
again as Hagan retaliated after a tackle leaving the referee
once again no option but to brandish a second yellow and subsequent
red to the midfielder. Ten versus nine then for the last 19
minutes and by then it was Lisburn Distillery who were pressing
hard for the winner which so nearly came when Gary Browne
hit a tremendous goalbound free kick on 75 minutes only to
see an equally tremendous save by Miskelly in the Ports goal.
Lisburn
Distillery manager Paul Kirk had made two attacking substitutions
by that stage in a bid to win the game and his tactics were
rewarded at last in the 85th minute. Good work from Gary Browne
out wide ended with a pass which had fallen behind his fellow
striker Darren Armour, but the ball was only half cleared
and Peter McCann was on hand to rifle home an absolute thunderbolt
from all of 30 yards out into the roof of the Portadown net.
It was the former Ports players' second goal in consecutive
games for the Whites and with it went any chance Portadown
had of taking anything from a pulsating game.
Lisburn Distillery - Matthews,
McMenamin (McConnell 76), Buchanan, Muir, Thompson, Shaw,
R.McCann, P.McCann, Ward (Kilmartin 83), Waterworth (Armour
53), Browne, Unused Subs: Magee, Wright
Portadown
- Miskelly, McKeown, Redman, Clarke, Convery, O'Hara, Hagan,
Collins, Braniff, Smith, M.McCann (Derry | | |