Whites and Reds settle for a point apiece

 

PLENTY of sunshine here at New Grosvenor but unfortunately no goals.

The result does however mean that both sides continue to head Group 4 of the CIS Insurance Cup and it means that Reds boss Eddie Patterson continues his unbeaten start as the Reds caretaker/boss at the start of the season.

Whilst Cliftonville had more possession in the opening ten min-utes, neither side looked like making any sort of early breakthrough.

The first strike on goal came on 14 minutes.

Francis Murphy and Damien McLaughlin exchanged passes on the edge of the area but Murphy's shot lacked the power to trouble Paul Straney in the visitors goal.

The Whites were doing the pressing and Paul Muir's header dropped just over while Ryan McCann's free-kick went straight into the wall.

On 26 minutes former home favourite Mark Holland broke down the right and sent a dangerous cross into the area but Andy Kilmartin headed clear for a corner.

From the resultant kick Reds defender Keith Mulvenna out-jumped everyone but put his header wide of the target.

The best move of the half came on 28 minutes.

Murphy slipped the ball inside the defence to Sean Armstrong, the big number nine fired from eight yards out but once again Straney was there with a good one handed save.

Half-time: Lisburn Distillery 0 Cliftonville 0.

On 56 minutes Stranney was again quickly out of his goal to punch the ball clear from the incoming Armstrong.

The Reds then had a series of chances around the hour mark but failed to test Phil Matthews.

A 25 yard effort from Kilmartin saw Stranney diving across his goal to save on 71 minutes and we then had a spate of yellow cards with Wayne Buchanan, John O'Loughlin, McConnell and Stran-ney all booked.

There was some action right at the death, O'Loughlin almost grabbed the winner on 86 minutes, he ran down the right and from the byline saw his shot smack against the crossbar.

Right at the end of normal time Armstrong went close for the homeside but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

In injury time Stranney was again there for the Reds bravely down at the feet of Armstrong.

LISBURN DISTILLERY: Matthews, McKeown, Thompson, McCann, Buchanan, Muir, Kilmartin, Dickson, Armstrong, McLaughlin, Murphy.

Subs Martin, Willis, Hagan.

CLIFTONVILLE: Straney, Fleming, Scannell, Mulvenna, O'Hara, O'Loughlin, Cleary, McConnell, Holland, Downey, Friars.

Subs Patterson, Morgan, Farrell.

Referee: Stephen Wetherall (Belfast).