Match report – Bangor v Lisburn Distillery (Lough 41 Premier Intermediate League) – Wednesday 24th August 2022
Bangor v Lisburn Distillery (Lough 41 Premier Intermediate League) – Wednesday 26th August 2022
Lisburn Distillery made the trip the Clandeboye Park on Wednesday night to begin this seasons Premier Intermediate League campaign against Bangor, one of the sides who will no doubt be hoping to be pushing towards the top of the table throughout the season.
Bangor made their intentions clear with an attack in the first minute of the game, ending with a header that did not trouble Callum Rooney, who was making his debut in goal for the Whites.
The opening goal soon arrived though when Jack Patton, about ten yards into the Distillery half, turned and attempted to play a pass across the pitch but inadvertently put the ball out from a corner. From this, the visiting defence failed to pick up Bangor defender Ryan Arthur who headed his side into the lead after four minutes.
Lewis Higginson went close to equalising for the Whites three minutes later when he shot just wide after the ball fell into his path when Neil Ballentine’s free kick hit the wall. Unfortunately, after this it looked more like the home side would add to their lead with Ben Arthurs being denied by the post and Johnny Angus having to be alert to make a last ditch tackle to deny what looked to be a certain goal.
The home sides lead was doubled in the 17th minute, and the goal was virtually a carbon copy of the first, when once again Arthur was not picked up from a corner and rose highest to head past Rooney for the second time of the game.
After the second goal, Distillery began to get into the game more and went close just before the half hour mark when Higginson did well to control a pass from Ballentine just inside the box and managed to get a shot off but an opposition defender was on hand to block the effort. A few minutes later Carson’s 30-yard free kick clipped the top of the Bangor bar.
Perhaps had the Whites managed to pull a goal back during this period the game could have went differently. Alas, three goals in the last ten minutes of the half, a brace from Jamie Glover and a header from Arthurs, for the home side saw them go in five goals to the good at the break and the game was all but over.
Half Time: Bangor 5-0 Lisburn Distillery
Distillery manager Barry Johnston chose to make three substitutions at the break with James Morgan, Dylan Sinnerton and Justin Grattan all being introduced.
Distillery started the half brightly and in the 49th minute, Jourdan Shearer sent a cross into the box from the right that was just too high for the recently introduced Sinnerton. Then, just before the hour mark good play from the half time sub to hold the ball up and hook a pass through to Shearer saw the home ‘keeper tested for the first time of the game.
Lee Feeney’s side almost extended their lead in the 62nd minute when hesitation from Rooney to come for the ball saw a Bangor attacker attempt to lob him from inside the box but the ball cannoned off the bar and eventually any danger was cleared.
Shearer and Conall Murray both had efforts to try to reduce the Bangor lead but neither could find the target.
Distillery would eventually finish the game with ten men when Patton was given a second yellow card in the final ten minutes of the game, for what looked to be a harsh foul.
Overall, a disappointing result for a new look youthful Distillery side but hopefully the players can take heart from what was a much-improved second half showing and carry this into Saturday’s league game against Portstewart.
Lisburn Distillery; Rooney, Murray, Fleming, Patton, Higginson, McGuinness ©, Shearer, Ballentine, Elliott, Shannon, Angus.
Lisburn Distillery substitutions; Robinson (for Fleming, 52 mins), Morgan (for Elliott, 46 mins), Sinnerton (for Shannon, 46 mins), Young (for Shearer, 68 mins), Scott, Grattan (for Angus, 46 mins).
Match Report by Cameron Moore @cameron2604
David Hunter’s Picture gallery from this game can be found @ https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA4w12
