Match Report: Glebe Rangers (H)

Lisburn Distillery v Glebe Rangers (Steel & Sons Cup 3rd Round) – Saturday 11th September 2021

Lisburn Distillery were at home on Saturday for the second week in a row, this time though attentions returned to the Steel & Sons Cup as well welcomed Glebe Rangers to New Grosvenor, the winners knew that a further home tie against either Ballymena United Seconds or Greenisland awaited in the 4th round.

Chris Getty and Aaron Harris returned to the Whites startling line-up after being absent from the defeat against Newington and Stephen Sullivan also made his full debut in midfield. Barry Moore dropped out, he was serving a one game ban after being sent off against Newington, and Scott Brannigan and Jordan Lucas were the other players to make way.

The Whites made a terrible start to the game and were behind after only two minutes, when Ian Christie managed to beat Getty to a cross from the left wing and headed past Nicholl to put the visitors ahead. The last time the two sides met was in the Intermediate Cup at New Grosvenor almost two years ago, the visitors took the lead in that game but a Mikey Withers brace and Mick O’Hanlon goal saw Distillery run out winners and Whites fans were already hoping for a similar comeback.

Glebe continued to have the better of the opening stages of the game but the home side perhaps should have been level in the 11th minute when Joe Reid played Nick Napier in after making a good run down the right hand flank but the number 10’s shot was blocked by Glenn McMullan in goals and seconds later Higginson managed to get on the end of a Timmy Clarke cross but the midfielders goal bound effort was blocked on the line by a Rangers defender.

Johnny Clapham’s side certainly improved as the half wore on but asides from Mick O’Hanlon and Timmy Clarke efforts from range that were comfortably held by McMullan they had little to show for their efforts and before the half finished Glebe had a chance to double their lead when Adam Harte closed down a Christian Irvine passed and rounded Nicholl but was forced wide and his final effort hit the side netting.

When the half-time whistle blew it had to be said that Glebe were deservedly still in front and there would need to be much improvement from Distillery in the second half.

Half-time: Lisburn Distillery 0-1 Glebe Rangers

Distillery came out fighting in the second half to their credit and Reid saw an effort go just wide within the first five minutes of the restart following.

Whites fans did not have long to wait for the equaliser, which came in the 57th minute. An O’Hanlon shot from the edge of the box was deflected behind for a corner which Distillery opted to take quickly and when the ball was eventually delivered into the box substitute Caoelain Young glanced the ball goalwards and the ball nestled in the top corner out of McMullan’s reach.

Three minutes later and the game was turned on its head when a hopeful ball into the box from Harris appeared to beat everyone and this time ended up in the bottom corner on the opposite side of McMullan’s goal to put Distillery into the lead, looking back it appears Napier was actually the player who got the final touch to the ball before it crossed the line.

Distillery were well on top by now and Reid in particular was causing some problems for the visitors down the right hand side, one of his crossed found Napier but his effort on goal was again saved by McMullan and another cross from the same player was touched onto the post by a defender and out for a corner.

Glebe were not beaten yet though and there was a scare in the 86th minute when a long ball into the Distillery box deflected off a Whites players head but thankfully the ball dropped just wide of Nicholl’s right-hand post.

Distillery substitute James Begley should have really put the game to bed in the 88th minute within seconds of having come on when a pass forward put him clean through on goal but the Whites player tried to round McMullan and ended up losing control of the ball.

The final whistle blew though, and it is Clapham’s Distillery side who head into the 4th round to face Ballymena United Seconds, who beat Greenisland 4-2, next up though is a League Cup tie against Championship side Loughgall on Tuesday night.

Lisburn Distillery; Nicholl, Sullivan, Clarke, Irvine, Getty, Higginson, O’Hanlon, Harris, McCaw, Napier, Reid

Lisburn Distillery substitutions; Pollock, P. Young (for O’Hanlon, 76 mins), Grattan, C. Young (for McCaw, 39 mins), Begley (for C. Young, 86 mins)