Match report – Lisburn Distillery v Ballymacash Rangers (Playr-Fit Premier Intermediate League) – Saturday 26th August 2023

It was the opening day of the Premier Intermediate League on Saturday and Lisburn Distillery played host to Ballymacash Rangers, in the first of two games in four days between the two sides.

This presented a good test for the much-changed Distillery side, who had two wins from two cup games prior to Saturday. The Whites were going up against a side who finished 2^nd last season and were likely amongst the favourites for the title this season but both games between Distillery and Ballymacash last season were also tightly contested affairs.

Barry Johnston made no changes to the starting eleven from the previous weeks game against Tullycarnet and it was the home side who had the first sight of goal in the 1^st minute of play, Michael Gallagher was put through on goal, but his shot was pushed over the bar by goalkeeper, Brian Neeson.

The Whites had a positive start to the game and were getting forward at every opportunity but despite their possession and encouraging build up, the early Gallagher effort remained the only time Neeson was tested.

As the half progressed, Ballymacash managed to regain a foothold in the game and won several set pieces, but these came to nothing and much like up the other end, the Distillery goalkeeper, Ethan Carry, had had a very quiet afternoon so far.

The first goal of the game was scored in the 31^st minute and it was for the Whites. Kyle Flynn delivered a great ball into the box from the left and Ryan McNickle sent a downward header past Neeson to score his third goal in as many games, at this point Distillery were good value for their lead.

The home side had another sight of goal three minutes after going ahead, a free kick from the left was cleared by Ballymacash but only as far as Dean Lewis but his volley from the edge of the box was off target.

Unfortunately, the home side were unable to remain ahead at the break as in the 38^th minute Benny Igiehon played the ball out left and then continued his run into the box, where he nipped ahead of Conor McDermott to head in the equaliser and that is how things remained when the referee brought an end to the opening 45 minutes.

Half-Time: Lisburn Distillery 1-1 Ballymacash Rangers

The first effort on goal after the break was from Distillery, a cross from the right was just too far ahead of Johnny Newell, the ball did reach Flynn at the back post, but he was unable to keep his shot below the bar in the 47^th minute.

Ballymacash turned the game on its head six minutes after the break, the ball came into the Distillery box from the left and was flicked on towards Igiehon who controlled the ball with his chest and turned to hammer home past Carry, giving Ballymacash the lead in the game.

Distillery responded well to going behind but despite continuing to compete well with their opponents they were unable to break the visiting defence down and it was Ballymacash who had the ball in the back of the net in the 64^th minute. Igiehon got on the end of another cross from the left but this time his header was denied by the crossbar, only for one of his teammates to force the rebound over the line but the referee adjudged that a handball had occurred in the process and ruled the goal out.

Johnston made some substitutions in an attempt to shake things up and there were efforts on the Ballymacash goal from Joe Tully and Flynn, but they were not enough to beat Neeson, and the visitors were able to add to their lead in injury time, Distillery lost the ball in the final third and Jack Smith was able to finish past Carry to seal the three points for Lee Forsythe’s side.

Despite the loss there were certainly positives for Distillery to take from the game and supporters will have certainly been encouraged by the Whites battling performance throughout but ultimately, as it so often the case, it came down to Ballymacash taking their chances.

The Whites will have an early chance to put things right on Tuesday night when we travel to The Bluebell for the League Cup 1^st round.

Full Time: Lisburn Distillery 1-3 Ballymacash Rangers

Lisburn Distillery; Carry, Lewis, Flynn, McDermott, Angus, Woods, Grattan, Newell, Gallagher, Tully, McNickle

Lisburn Distillery substitutions; McCutcheon (for McNickle, 77 mins), McKee (for Gallagher, 60 mins), Devenny, Sharkey (for Woods, 81 mins), Geddis, Cakaj, Magill