Lisburn Distillery v Glentoran Seconds (ToalsBet.Com Steel & Sons Cup 3rd Round) – Saturday 1st October 2022
In a replay of last season’s Intermediate Cup game Lisburn Distillery welcomed Glentoran Seconds to New Grosvenor on Saturday, this time in the Steel & Sons Cup.
There were few talking points in the opening 15 minutes of the game, the home side attempted an attack down the right after four minutes and a pass was played through to Carson Elliott but the visiting ‘keeper, Michael Argyrides, was quick off his line to thwart the danger.
There was a nervy moment for Whites fans with just under 10 minutes played when Stephen Curley and Ethan Carry, who had come outside the 18-yard box, attempted to clear the same ball, which bounced off Curley and past the Whites stopper. Fortunately, the defender managed to clear the ball for a throw in before the visitors could capitalise.
The opening goal did come after 16 minutes and unfortunately it went the way of the East Belfast side in bizarre circumstances, the Whites simply seemed to switch off for a few seconds and the ball ended up in the back of the net with the referee recording it later as a Curley own goal.
Barry Johnston’s side tried to find a way back into the game but to no avail, Lewis Higginson and James Morgan did have efforts on goal but Argyrides easily saved these.
The visitors almost doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when a cross-cum-shot from Jonathan Russell struck the post and bounced away from danger.
To the surprise of most in the ground Distillery did manage to go in at the break level when Conall Murray beat Argyrides to a cross from the right and sent a looping header above the ‘keepers head with the ball coming down to nestle in the back of the net.
The Whites had given themselves a lifeline but there would need to be an improvement after the break if they were to advance into the fourth round of the competition.
Half Time: Lisburn Distillery 1-1 Glentoran
The second half did see an improvement from Distillery and three minutes after the break Aaron Smyth and Fra McGuinness linked up out on the right and the latters cross found Elliott but he could not get a shot off and eventually the danger was cleared.
Both goalkeepers were called into action just before the hour mark, firstly Carry made a great save with his trailing leg to prevent what looked a certain second goal for Glentoran and then up the other end Argyrides stood his ground to block Elliott’s shot after the Whites beat the offside trap.
Distillery went close again in the 63rd minute when Murray’s shot was blocked almost on the line in the 63rd minute and from the resulting corner Dylan Sinnerton’s delivery looked to be curling straight into the goal but Argyrides eventually laid claim to the ball.
After this the visitors began to take control of the game and Carry had to make another good save from a free kick low to his left and somehow the Whites managed to keep the ball from crossing the line when there was a scramble in front of goal following a corner in the 76th minute.
With just over 10 minutes to play, Carry was the saviour again, making another save with his legs to deny what seemed to be another certain goal and then in the 83rd minute Elliott fizzed a dangerous looking free kick into the Glens box but once again, Argyrides gathered the ball.
A minute after this the Whites fell behind for the second time in the game when they struggled to clear a free kick delivered from the left and Harry Murphy was able to take advantage to force the ball past Carry and over the line.
The Whites did push for an equaliser but as had been the case for most of the afternoon, they could not find a way past the visiting backline and ‘keeper. The visitors were reduced to ten men in the third minute of injury time when Malachy Smith was given his marching orders for an off the ball incident, this perhaps giving Distillery a glimmer of hope.
There was one final chance in the fifth minute of added time when Distillery managed to win a corner and piled men into the opposition box, with Carry even racing forward to join the attack himself. The delivery into the box was good and met the head of Jack Fleming but his header was blocked by his own teammate in Curley and this deflection sent the ball over the bar for a goal kick.
This was the last chance of the game and the final whistle blew soon after and the Whites hopes of advancing further in the Steel & Sons Cup ended. There were however some positive signs during the second half and attention now turns back to league action as the Whites search for their first league win of the season against Moyola Park on Saturday.
Full Time: Lisburn Distillery 1-2 Glentoran Seconds
Lisburn Distillery; Carry, Sinnerton, Murray, Morgan, Patton, Curley, Higginson, Warnock, Gray, Elliott, McGuinness
Lisburn Distillery substitutions; Smyth (for Gray, 33 mins), Lynch (for McGuinness, 57 mins), Robinson, Shearer, Fleming (for Patton, 56 mins)
Match report by Cameron Moore @Cameron2604
Complete picture gallery from this game can be found at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA9HxT
