St James Swifts v Lisburn Distillery
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After two home games to start the season, Lisburn Distillery travelled to Donegal Celtic Park to face St James Swifts on Friday night in the last of three away games in six days. It had been a mixed week so far, starting with a win against Shankill United in the Steel & Sons Cup the previous weekend and then a defeat away to Dergview on Tuesday night.

Lee Forsythe made two changes from the aforementioned Dergview game with new signing Dylan Davidson starting in place of Aaron Cochrane, who had hobbled off early midweek, and Callum McComb returning to the side in place of Ryan Sharkey, who dropped to the bench; other recent signings Matthew Henry and Jack Boyd joined him there.

These two sides had met previously in cup action but this was the first league meeting between them and the opposition had more than one familiar face for Whites supporters to recognise. Former Distillery player Caleb Crawford started for St James at the back with other former players in the form of Josh Lynch, Ray Brady and Fra Brennan, who was also briefly Assistant Manager to Stephen Hughes at New Grosvenor, on the bench for the home side. St James are of course also managed by another former Distillery Assistant Manager, Eamonn McCarthy.

With both sides having played midweek, St James picking up a point away to Dollingstown, it’s perhaps no shock that it was a cagey start to the game with no real chances for either side; barring an effort from a home player from the edge of the box in the 8th minute that was blocked by Distillery captain, Jordan Morrison.

After this, both goalkeepers were called into action in the 23rd and 26th minutes respectively; first Jonny Holland for Distillery had to push a downward header over the bar and then the Whites stopper punched away the resulting corner. While at the other end, Padraig Linton had to turn a McComb header from a Dean Lewis free kick behind with the resulting corner again coming to nothing.

Distillery survived a let off just before the 30 minute mark when a cross from the home side’s right flashed across goal and was thankfully just out of reach of both Swifts players who were stretching for the ball. In the 31st minute another Lewis free kick again found a visiting player, this time Morrison, but with three goals for Distillery already this season on this occasion the defender headed over the bar.

The home side nudged themselves ahead in the 33rd minute when a Patrick McDiarmid strike from outside the box beat Holland and found the back of the net and for the third time this week, Forsythe’s side found themselves having to come from behind if they wanted anything from the game.

The next action of note came six minutes later and unfortunately for Distillery it was the home side doubling their lead through a cracking Conall Maguire strike from range, an effort that will surely make the highlights reel for Goal of the Season.

There was a game defining moment in the 42nd minute when Josh Cahoon appeared to be hauled to the ground while trying to attack a Distillery set piece but the visitor’s penalty appeals were dismissed from what appeared about as strong a case as you’d be likely to see.

There was time for one last Distillery effort on goal in first half injury time after a free kick was won in shooting range but Callum Dougan’s effort went just wide of the target and so the Whites went in at the break two goals down and facing an uphill battle to come away with anything.

The Whites made two changes at the break with Ryan Sharkey and new signing Jack Boyd replacing Davidson and McComb respectively but whilst more of the game was being played in the home sides half, Distillery were unable to make whatever possession they had count for anything.

On the hour mark Distillery had penalty appeals waved away for the second time of the night when in a carbon copy to the first half incident, Cahoon was again bundled over from a set piece by a St James player who seemed to have little, if any, intent on playing the ball.

A minute later Josh McKee had a great chance to halve the deficit when he beat the offside trap but took a touch when the chance was maybe there to have a go first time and then the summer signing air kicked his final effort, shortly after this Boyd also miscued his shot from a cross from the right; two moments in quick succession that perhaps perfectly summed up the night for Distillery.

Further changes were made by the visiting management team but still the Whites were unable to breakdown a resolute home defence, who at this stage seemed mostly content to defend their two goal lead. Morrison did have a speculative effort from range but was well off target and there were further penalty appeals when this time Dougan went down in the Swifts box but it’s fair to say the shouts were much more muted on this occasion.

With five minutes of normal time to go the Whites did throw themselves a lifeline via Lavery, the left sided defender finding a way past the home defence and Linton to set up a dramatic close to the game.

In the 87th minute it looked like the unthinkable had happened when Lavery curled a cross in from the left that eluded everyone, including Linton, and struck the inside of the home sides post but in another moment that summed up the Distillery night, the ball bounced away from goal to safety instead of over the line.

In the end it was the home side who scored again to make it 3-1 in the fourth minute of added time, capitalising as the Whites pushed for an equaliser and scoring through Michael Fearick. There was still time for the McCarthy’s side to have the ball in the back of the net again but this time Distillery were spared by the offside flag.

As it was a week that had started with great promise, ended in disappointment and whilst some will point to certain refereeing decisions and the slice of misfortune with being denied by the post at the end; the truth is the Whites got what they deserved from this game in contrast to Dergview on Tuesday night. Attention now turns to cup action this weekend as Portstewart visit New Grosvenor for the first time this season in the Conference Cup.