Match Report v Colin Valley – 16/8/25
Lisburn Distillery v Colin Valley (ToalsBet.com Steel & Sons Cup 2nd Round) – Saturday 16th August 2025
It was back to Steel & Sons Cup action on Saturday for our fourth cup game in the space of three weeks, this was the 2nd round of this particular competition with Lisburn Distillery having beaten Portavogie two weeks previously while our opponents Colin Valley received a bye in the 1st round draw.
There were two changes to the Distillery side from the midweek comeback win against Banbridge Town in the League Cup; defender Kyle Anderson came into the side for his first appearance since signing from Knockbreda over the summer and goalkeeper Marcus Thompson returned to the starting eleven, Adam McCart and Ruadhan McKenna were the players who dropped to the bench.
The first real action to note of the game was Distillery taking the lead in the 4th minute, Dean Lewis sent a cross from the right wing into the box were striker Benny Igiehon headed home his third goal in the competition this season. Josh Lynch and Gerard Storey had opportunities to add to the lead following set pieces but the opposition goalkeeper, Adam Auld, saved the formers effort, while the latter was off target was his 30-yard strike.
The home side did double their advantage with 15 minutes on the clock though; Auld charged off his line to close down Igiehon and managed to push the ball out of the Distillery player’s path. Momentum however took the Colin Valley goalkeeper and ball outside the box and being closed down by Guillaume Keke the opposition stopper sent his clearance downfield straight to Lynch, the in-form midfielder took one touch to control the ball before lobbing it home from all of 30 yards.
It was the Distillery player’s third goal in the space of a week, as many as he had scored in the previous two seasons combined. It was really all one-way traffic at New Grosvenor throughout the first half and Igiehon and Padraig McVicker had further shots on the visitor’s goal saved by Auld, while sandwiched in between these two chances Keke was off target with an effort of his own from just outside the area.
The Whites dominance would continue into first half injury time when McVicker got on the end of a poor pass from Auld but was closed down by a defender before he could get a shot off and Igiehon was denied by the crossbar after getting on the end of another cross from Lewis. Colin Valley did fire Stephen Hughes’ side a warning shot with the last action of the half though when Anthony McGonnell’s curling free kick from the Distillery left had to be touched onto the crossbar by Thompson.
The end result was a goal kick though, much to the bemusement of everyone apart from the referee.
Half-Time: Lisburn Distillery 2-0 Colin Valley
The Whites had some chances to add to their lead in the early stages after the break with Lewis blazing an effort from range well off target, while Storey was just inches wide with a shot from outside the box of his own.
The best opportunity though fell to Boyd, who picked up on another attempted pass from the opposition ‘keeper but the angle never really favoured the half-time substitute and the Colin Valley custodian spared himself any further blushes with a pretty routine save. Despite these early opportunities, it did seem like the Whites had taken their foot off the gas since the restart and Colin Valley took full advantage of this, pulling a goal back after 56 minutes.
Auld’s clearance downfield following his earlier save from Boyd was flicked beyond the Distillery defence by Keelan Gorman and picked up by James Mullan who coolly finished past Thompson to cut the Ballyskeagh sides advantage in half.
The visitors should have been level just a few minutes past the hour mark when a well delivered corner found a blue shirt at the back post but the ball flew off target to relief of all those of Distillery persuasion. At the other Storey produced a good save from Auld and Boyd and Igiehon were off target with efforts on goal, while Napier was denied by the post after meeting Storey’s cross from the left with his head.
Going into the closing minutes of the game and knowing that a Colin Valley goal at this stage would in all likelihood send the game to penalties the final whistle could not come soon enough for Distillery but the visitors were determined not to make things easy for the Whites.
A free kick delivered into the Distillery box found Gorman at the back post who seemed to have escaped the attention of the defence but at full stretch, all the visiting player was able to do was head the ball straight into the arms of Thompson. The Distillery ‘keeper almost cost his side dearly late in the game as he left his box to clear a long ball from the visitors but the former Lisburn Rangers man scuffed his clearance and played it straight to Gorman.
With the Distillery stopper still in no man’s land, the Colin Valley player had one thought on his mind, checking back infield and shooting for goal from about 25 yards but fortunately, defender Caleb Crawford closed the shot down much to the relief of Thompson and the Distillery supporters.
Finally, the full time whistle went to the relief of the Distillery fans, players and management; the Whites had made hard work of the second half but the main thing in all cup competitions is being in the hat for the next round.
The 3rd round of the Steel & Sons Cup is scheduled for Saturday 6th September and we will find out our opponents in due course, next up is a welcome return to league action for the first time this season as we travel to Knockbreda on Saturday.
Full Time: Lisburn Distillery 2-1 Colin Valley
Lisburn Distillery; Thompson, Lewis, Lavery, Lynch, Igiehon, Keke, Grattan, McVicker, Storey, Anderson, Crawford Lisburn Distillery substitutions; McKenna, McCart, Boyd (for Keke, 46 mins), Sharkey (for McVicker, 60 mins), Napier (for Lynch, 46 mins)
