Lisburn Distillery v Banbridge Town (Lough 41 Premier Intermediate League) – Saturday 26th March 2022
Lisburn Distillery returned to league action on Saturday for the first time in three weeks when
Frankie Wilson’s Banbridge side visited New Grosvenor. The Whites good run of form between
November and January has stuttered of late with two defeats and a draw in the previous four league games, a win would be important in this game if a top six finish were to be achieved.
There were two changes made to the team that lost 3-1 in the Intermediate Cup quarter-final against Limavady; Brendan Bennett and Lewis Higginson started in place of Jonathan Edge and Conan McAuley.
The Whites had a bright start to the game and it was Mick O’Hanlon who had the first shot of goal from outside the box after collecting the ball from a throw in but the ball went well off target.
After this though the visitors slowly began to control the game, though the closest they came to
scoring was in the 7th minute when Jonah Nicholl was called upon to make a double save from efforts inside the area before a defender was eventually able to clear the danger.
Town were on the attack again after 24 minutes when they countered after a Distillery attack broke down but the first effort on goal was blocked by a well-placed home defender and the follow up effort went wide of Nicholl’s left hand post.
After this, the home side did have a couple of opportunities to score but were unable to make them count. Firstly, in the 26th minute Christian Irvine tried to capitalise when a high free kick into the box was spilled by the opposition ‘keeper, Lewis Hunter, but by the time the defender was able to get a shot off Hunter had recovered to make the save. Just a minute later Jordan Lucas and O’Hanlon linked up well on the edge of the box but the crucial final pass just did not come off and the ball trickled behind for a goal kick.
Banbridge did have the ball in the back of the net after 34 minutes when Nicholl this time was unable to claim the ball from a corner but thankfully, for the home support, the referee blew for a foul on the Distillery stopper.
Both teams had one further chance apiece to break the deadlock immediately before the break.
Firstly, the visitors tried to take advantage when a header back to Nicholl from Joe Reid fell short butthe onrushing ‘keeper was able to get a hand to the ball to force the attacker wide and Irvine came from nowhere to block the eventual effort on goal that looked set to head into the open goal.
When the resulting corner was cleared the Whites immediately went on the attack and it was another pass back that caused a problem when Hunter attempted to clear the ball upfield first time but sliced the effort. Lucas sought to take advantage but with the ball bobbling up on the pitch, he could not get it under his control and again Hunter eventually recovered to claim the ball.
The half-time whistle blew with the game scoreless and leaving a big 45 minutes ahead for Distillery’s season.
Half-time: Lisburn Distillery 0-0 Banbridge Town
The home side again started the half brightly and threatened the opposition goal two minutes after the restart when Higginson met Bennett’s cross from the left but the midfielders head went just over the bar.
