Match report 25/01/20 – Banbridge Town 0 v Lisburn Distillery 3

by Colin Hopkins · Published 29th January 2020 · Updated 29th January 2020

Intermediate Cup – Third Round

Banbridge Town 0 v Lisburn Distillery 3

Lisburn Distillery went into this game seeking an early recovery from their 5—1 defeat last time out against Annagh United and it didn’t take them long to start to turn things around as, with only 12 minutes on the clock, they opened the scoring.

A fine through ball from Timmy Clarke saw Mikey Withers speed through the Banbridge offside trap and once in with the ball he made no mistake jinking the ball over the head of the advancing Banbridge goalkeeper Luke Megaw and into the exposed net. Confidence now regained the Whites pressed for a second with Withers having another gilt edged chance on 19 minutes, once again following a great ball in from Clarke, however on this occasion he didn’t take the opportunity with the young home keeper Megaw getting down well to block the effort.

Banbridge themselves slowly settled into the game and on 41 minutes had a glorious chance to level the match as Distillery defender Mark Stewart tripped veteran forward James Costello in the box and the referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot. Up stepped the normally reliable Conor Downey to take the spot kick but on this occasion Distillery ‘keeper Jonah Nicholl was up to his effort diving to his right to palm the ball away and out of danger.

Half time and the Whites led 1-0 however early second half saw the home side up their game pressing the Distillery defence into rearguard action firstly as Nicholl was forced to make a smart save from Michael Allison on 55 minutes then Costello fired narrowly wide on 62 minutes.

After this early burst the Whites settled again however it took a slice of good fortune to increase their lead as on 67 minutes a cross into the box from Clarke (again) saw Banbridge defender Stephen Greene inadvertently head into his own net as he attempted to clear the danger.

2-0 to the visitors then and it was little surprise when they added a third as on 80 minutes as James Wright found himself in space inside the Banbridge penalty area and he calmly drilled into the net from around 12 yards out.

A full time score line of 3-0 then to Distillery with both a haul of three goals and a clean sheet most welcome as the team returned to form and booked their place in round four where they will face a home game against a strong St.James Swifts team.

LDFC Team: Nicholl, Long, Clarke, Getty, Stewart, Moore (C), O’Hanlon, Withers, Rooney, Wright, Irvine

Subs: McIlhone, Harris (for Irvine), Young (for Rooney), Caldwell

David Hunter’s full picture gallery from this game can be found on Flickr @ https://flic.kr/s/aHsmL4BTM8

25th January 2020. McComb’s Travel Intermediate Cup (R3). Banbridge Town 0 Lisburn Distillery 3 at Crystal Park, Banbridge. Picture COPYRIGHT David Hunter.

25th January 2020. McComb’s Travel Intermediate Cup (R3). Banbridge Town 0 Lisburn Distillery 3 at Crystal Park, Banbridge. Picture COPYRIGHT David Hunter.

25th January 2020. McComb’s Travel Intermediate Cup (R3). Banbridge Town 0 Lisburn Distillery 3 at Crystal Park, Banbridge. Picture COPYRIGHT David Hunter.