Match Report – Lisburn Distillery 3 v Glebe Rangers 1

Lisburn Distillery 3 v Glebe Rangers 1

19/10/19 – Intermediate Cup First Round

In the 15^th minute of this one Michael O’Hanlon received the ball on the right side of the box and tapped the ball past the visitors Kurtis McCartney before running round the other side of him and then crossing the ball towards the back post. The cross caused panic and had to be tipped out by the Glebe ‘keeper Glenn McMullan, towards Distillery’s Kevin Braniff, who was a few yards out from an open net. Braniff however took his eye off the ball and the keeper was able to recover quick enough to claim the loose ball before any real damage was done.

Braniff was involved in the action again in the 25^th minute as a loose ball in the midfield was intercepted by Paul Young who played a first time ball to Braniff who played a one-two back to Young down the left wing. Young crossed it first time into the box and although Braniff did well to get his head to the ball his header went straight into the hands of the Glebe keeper.

Glebe’s attacking opportunities were limited however it was they who broke the deadlock going one nil up in the 35^th minute as a whipped in free kick into the box was deflected by Aaron Harris into his own net as he attempted to clear the danger.

Half time saw the visitors lead 1-0 but this seemed to inspire what had been a previously dull Distillery team as the Whites began to dominate the second half. Indeed they were almost level on 51 minutes as Jonny McCaw’s shot from distance was deflected just over the bar.

Fifty nine minutes and there was another Distillery chance as a cross from Michael O’Hanlon was won in the air by a Ranger’s defender but the attempted clearance was only cleared  as far as McCaw who superbly volleyed his shot hard and low before seeing it somehow rebounding off the upright to safety.

Distillery kept creating chances, looking like scoring again in the 67^th minute as McCaw lost his man on the left wing and delivered a cross in to the centre of the box, which was chested down by Harris, towards Braniff whose shot, from the edge of the box, was deflected wide

It looked like it wasn’t going to be the Whites day however, Distillery finally levelled the game in the 73^rd minute after James Wright played the ball in to the feet of substitute, Nick Beta.  Beta, despite having his back to goal turned well with the ball, creating space between himself and the defender and created the needed time to deliver a low driven cross in front of the goal mouth for fellow substitute, Mikey Withers to convert from close range.

Distillery then took the lead two minutes later, when Timmy Clarke, delivered a ball into the box, over the intended target of Beta with the ball instead falling to the feet of the unmarked O’Hanlon, who composed himself well before picking out the bottom left corner of the net with a crisp shot.

Distillery made it three in the 93^rd minute as the ball was played over the top of the Glebe defence which in turn set the pacy Withers free and, as the visiting keeper came charging out of his goal, Withers delicately chipped the keeper to confirm the outcome of the game.

Lisburn Distillery Team: McIlhone, McAlea, Clarke, McCaw, Stewart, Getty, O’Hanlon, Harris (C), Braniff, Young, Wright

Subs: Beta (for Harris), Byrne (for McCaw), Withers (for Young), Long

Report by Johnny Millar   David Hunter’s full picture gallery from this game can be found on Flickr @ https://flic.kr/s/aHsmHRCwL7