Match report – 07/04/18 – Portstewart 0 v Lisburn Distillery 1

Portstewart 0 vs Lisburn Distillery 1

An important game for Distillery and indeed a vital win which puts them third in the league as their season draws to a close, applying pressure to Queens with the Whites only four points away from 2^nd place.

However, it was Portstewart who looked likely to open the scores, coming close on the third minute as Peden’s freekick found the head of Richard Vauls, who headed wide of the goal.

Distillery replied quickly coming close to scoring themselves on the 25^th minute as Timmy Clarke intercepted a pass just inside Portstewart’s half and he was able to play the ball to Ferguson, who had his back to goal, Fergusons first touch was good and allowed him to get his shot off, however, the ball bobbled on the pitch and they ball lifted off the ground and Ferguson’s shot flew over the bar as a result.

Distillery came close to going one ahead on the 32^nd minute through an Aaron Harris free kick which curled round the wall and was deflected out skimming the post as it went out for a corner.

Nonetheless, it was Portstewart who had the clearest cut chance of the half as Quigg’s cross on the 38^th minute went over McMurtry’s head to the feet of Luke McDowell who hit the post and the ball fell back to Lee Forgrave, who had his shot blocked well by Adam Wright who stopped a certain goal.

It was the Whites that came out for the second half looking most likely to get the first goal of the game, Timmy Clarke almost added to his goal tally in spectacular fashion as Matthew Ferguson lay the ball out to him and he struck first time from around thirty yards out straight into the keeper’s hands.

Portstewart’s keeper then came under pressure again minutes later and was called to action as Saunder’s kick reached the Portstewart 18 yard box and was headed by Young into the path of Withers who also won his header aimed at the goal, but was stopped by keeper Bednarz, who dived to catch the header.

Portstewart then asked questions of the White’s defence who answered well, with Adam Wright outmuscling Ryan Doherty, in the box, preventing him from getting a clean strike on his shot.

From one shot that narrowly missed, to one that was disallowed a few minutes later as Adam Wright won a header from a corner on the 55^th minute and headed past the Portstewart keeper, only for the referee to blow up for a foul.

Shortly after this the home sides Doherty was allowed run through on however, fortunately for Distillery, he dragged his shot well wide, but a let off for sure.

Portstewart came close again a minute later, this time Doherty started the move crossing the ball from the right wing finding Luke Mcdowell at the back post who headed the ball down towards to the inrushing Law whose first time volley forced Saunders to dive to his right and to tip the ball to safety.

This save contributed to Distillery’s third clean sheet in a row and it proved decisive as the Whites were then awarded a penalty on 75 minutes which McMurtry  duly converted  and in doing so earned the visitors a 1-0 win putting Distillery just four points behind Queens.

Match report by Johnny Millar

David Hunter’s picture gallery from our game v Portstewart can be found on our official Flickr page @ https://flic.kr/s/aHsmhkog8J

Team Lineup: Saunders, McMurty Wright, Moore, Clarke, Harris, Hislop, Whithers, Young, Ferguson, Beta.

Substitutions: Reid (on for Harris) , Curley, Corry (on for Hislop), Workman (on for Young), Nicholl.