Match Report: Newington (H)
Lisburn Distillery v Newington — Premier Intermediate League Saturday 4th September 2021
The Whites made a couple of changes from the previous game with Joe Reid, Lewis Higginson and Johnny McCaw in for Niall Dillon, Aaron Harris and Rhys Emerson.
A strong-looking Newington side attacked immediately and a contentious rash challenge by Barry Moore on the edge on the box led to a free-kick by Jack Kelly that was blocked by the defence.
Joe Reid forced a corner at the other end that saw a header from Christian Irvine cleared out to Scott Brannigan who fired over.
The Whites took the lead in the 10th minute when Timmy Clarke set off down the left and put in a great cross to the back post for defender Joe Reid to head home his first ever Distillery goal.
Newington brought on Patrick Downey for the injured Neil Cummings after 22 minutes and immediately had two good chances. Patrick Downey really should have scored from close in before Christian Irvine headed off the line, then a shot whistled just past the post. The Whites went up the other end and a bustling run by Timmy Clarke saw him brought down for a penalty. Jordan Lucas calmly slotted home and the Whites were two goals up after 26 minutes.
Newington had a good spell leading up to halftime with Sean O’Reilly having a couple of efforts. Then in the 42nd minute they got a goal back, when following a freekick from Jack Kelly, Gary Warwick got into space to flick a header past Jonah Nicholl into the top lefthand corner of the net.
Early pressure at the start of the second half led to Aiden Gillen going through on his own, but his shot bounced off the bar and Daniel White fired the rebound wide. Michael O’Hanlon picked up a booking in the 52nd minute before he set up Lewis Higginson who fired over from 25 yards. Then Nick Napier put Jordan Lucas through but he wascaught offside.
In the 65th minute Scott Brannigan committed a foul in the box and Gary Warwick converted the penalty for the equaliser.
Newington brought on Robert Warwick and former Whiteman Daire Rooney for Aiden Gillen and Sean O’Reilly as they went for the winner. Distillery brought on Caolin Young for Johnny McCaw.
Christian Irvine and Barry Moore were in the thick of the action as Newington pressed.
The Whites then had a rare chance in the 71st minute but Caolin Young fired over from 10 yards. At the other end, Gary Warwick got in behind the defence but his excellent flick went just over the bar.
The Whites brought on Stephen Sullivan for Scott Brannigan in the 72nd minute. More pressure from the visitors forced Jonah Nicholl into makinga couple of good saves.
Newington got a deserved winner in the 81st minute when Patrick Downey scored with a back post header after a great cross from the hard-working Conal Burns on the left.
The Whites brought on Paul Young for Jordan Lucas in the 83rd minute. However three minutes later Barry Moore was sent off for a ‘last-man’ foul right on the edge of the box. Jonah Nicholl made a good save from the freekick by Gary Warwick.
So the match ended in a deserved 3-2 victory by Newington who were certainly the better team in the second half. A disappointing result for the Whites who still seek their first League points.
Full-time: Lisburn Distillery 2-3 Newington
Lisburn Distillery: —Nicholl, Reid, Clarke, Higginson, Moore©, Irvine, O’Hanlon, Napier, Lucas, McCaw, Brannigan.
