Match Report – Steel & Sons Cup Third Round v Bloomfield

14/09/19

Steel and Sons Cup – Third Round

Bloomfield 0 vs 3 Lisburn Distillery

Distillery bounced back after their disappointing defeat away against Armagh City in the league to beat Bloomfield 3-0 in the Steel and Sons Cup to secure their place in round four, where they will now face Larne Tech OB.

Distillery had a promising start to the game, almost scoring in the 6^th minute as Paul Young swung in a corner, which was aimed towards the back post, but was just too high for Stewart who got his head on it, but only enough to send it straight up in to the air, where it fell for the Bloomfield defence who were able to get it clear.

The Whites continued to apply pressure on Bloomfield when a minute later Beta received the ball inside the box and turned back out, to play the ball in to the D, were O’Hanlon turned it on to his left foot and curled a shot towards the goal but it went over the bar.

In the 9^th minute, Timmy Clarke beat his man on the left wing and cut inside to take a shot which was deflected by the defender towards the feet of Beta but the hard working striker was unable to take the shot first time so shifted the ball to his left foot to create space for himself however the home ‘keeper Craig Harvey made himself look big and was able to block the effort.

Bloomfield’s goalkeeper Harvey was again called in to action in the 20^th minute as O’Hanlon played a through ball behind the Bloomfield defence putting Nesbitt through on goal with just the keeper to beat, however, Nesbitt attempted to chip the on rushing keeper, but his shot went straight in to his hands.

Distillery were dominant and looked threatening again in the 24^th minute from another dangerous corner from Paul Young which was sent towards the back post and won in the air again by Stewart who headed the ball back across the goal, just too far for Beta who was running in, but couldn’t get his head on it.

Beta was involved in another Distillery chance in the 34^th minute as O’Hanlon made a run from the halfway line and played a one two with Beta in to the box were he tried to chip the keeper, but his shot was directed straight in to his arms.

0-0 then at half time however the Whites finally made a breakthrough, breaking the deadlock on 57 minutes as Young crossed it in for the powerful Richie Nesbitt who headed it past the keeper to make it one nil to the Whites.

Distillery then had a chance to go two nil up in the 59^th minute as Clarke fired a free kick from inside Bloomfield’s half, in to the box, were it was won in the air by Chris Getty but his  headed effort saw the ball go straight in to the keeper’s hands.

The Whites scored their second goal in the 86^th minute when a clearance from Moore from inside his own box played Beta through with only the keeper to beat and he duly composed himself well before sliding the ball past the keeper and into the net.

Harris then played through Nesbitt on the right side of the box, his shot forcing the keeper to make a save down to his right to put the ball out for a corner. A temporary relief though for the hosts as from the resulting corner from Harris, Nesbitt was on hand to head home past the keeper for his second goal of the game.

The Whites were seldom troubled in this one and will doubtless be hoping to carry the winning ways into their next game v Portstewart.

Match report by Johnny Millar

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

Distillery team: McIlhone, Doyle, Clarke, Stewart, Moore, Getty, O’Hanlon, Beta, Nesbitt, Young, Wright

Subs: Harris (for Clarke), Brannigan (for O’Hanlon), Withers (for Young), Byrne

14th September 2019. Toals Steel & Sons Cup (Round 3): Bloomfield 0 Lisburn Distillery 3 at Houston Park, Belfast. Picture COPYRIGHT David Hunter.

14th September 2019. Toals Steel & Sons Cup (Round 3): Bloomfield 0 Lisburn Distillery 3 at Houston Park, Belfast. Picture COPYRIGHT David Hunter.