Match Report v Oxford Sunnyside 9/8/25

Oxford Sunnyside v Lisburn Distillery (Clearer Water Irish Cup 1st Round) – Saturday 9th August 2025

Lisburn Distillery travelled to Knockramer Park on Saturday to face Oxford Sunnyside in the only all Premier Intermediate League (PIL) tie taking place in the 1st round of this seasons Clearer Water Irish Cup. Both sides will have been looking at this game as an indicator for how they were shaping up ahead of the league campaign kicking off in two weeks time.

Despite winning the competition 12 times in our history the Irish Cup has not brought fond memories in recent times for Distillery supporters, you have to go back to the 2018 / 2019 season for the last time the Whites progressed beyond the 4th round and two of the past three seasons have seen 1st round exits. Included in this miserable run are defeats to lower league opponents Greenisland, St James Swifts and Rosemount Rec.

Manager Stephen Hughes made three changes to the side that beat Portavogie Rangers in the Steel & Sons Cup the previous Saturday. Goalkeeper Marcus Thompson came in for his debut, Gerard Storey made his ‘second debut’ for Distillery after returning a few days prior for a second spell at the club following his previous loan from Cliftonville and Padraig McVicker returned to the side for his first appearance of the new season. Ruadhan McKenna, Abby Sanusi and Justin Grattan were the players to make way.

The game had quite a cagey start but it was the Whites, debuting their new yellow and navy away kit, who had the first shot of the game after 10 minutes when Aaron Boyd went for goal from 25 yards after being set up by McVicker but it was a comfortable save for home goalkeeper, Aodhan Henderson. Shortly after this Leon Lavery had an effort on the Oxford Sunnyside goal from outside the box after some great hold up play by Guillaume Keke but the number three was unable to find the target, in between this a dangerous looking cross from a corner for the home side found Ciaran O’Conner but he headed over the crossbar.

The opening goal did come in favour of the visitors with 26 minutes on the clock, McVicker won a free kick for Distillery about 10 yards inside their own half. Dean Lewis, wearing the armband again in the continued absence of Aaron Cochrane, sent the ball forward to Keke who superbly controlled the ball with his chest before turning goalwards to poke the ball past Henderson.

Distillery had opportunities to add to their lead in the final 15 minutes of the opening period but Benny Igiehon and Boyd were both off target with their efforts.

The Whites took their slender lead into the half-time interval and while those watching on may feel the game had been even enough possession wise, few could argue that Distillery had dominated in terms of chances created in the opening 45 minutes.

Half-Time: Oxford Sunnyside 0-1 Lisburn Distillery

Whatever the Oxford Sunnyside management said to their players during the break clearly worked as with less than a minute played after the restart the Distillery defence were unable to deal with a ball in behind and Lavery’s attempted clearance went straight to Adam Salley, whose first time effort from about 20 yards beat Thompson to level the scores.

If Distillery supporters thought this early goal would serve as a warning shot, they were sadly mistaken as only a good save from Thompson to block Eoin Morgan’s volley inside the box stopped the home side from taking the lead, the debutant goalkeeper clawing the ball around his right hand post. Sunnyside supporters did not have to wait long to celebrate taking the lead though as the resulting corner was cleared but quickly recycled back towards the back post from the Distillery right. There Salley, who somehow had escaped the attention of the Distillery defence, met the cross and headed his side into the lead with his second goal of the game, and with less than five minutes of the second half played.

The Whites lacklustre start to the second period continued and before the hour mark, Thompson denied another Salley effort with his legs and Lavery deflected Harry Adair’s follow up behind for a corner.

Hughes’ side equalised almost out of the blue with a little more than an hour played. Keke got on the end of a Storey crossfield pass almost right on the by-line and took a great touch to keep the ball in play and check back inside beating the opposition defender, the number 10 then sent a right footed cross into the box and found Igiehon who headed home.

Distillery should have had the lead in the 65th minute when Josh Lynch crossed towards Keke at the back post after a defender deflected an Igiehon shot into his path but this time the summer signing from Ballymacash headed over when he really should have at least tested Henderson. Two minutes later at the other end, it was Salley’s turn to be disappointed as he sent a free header following a cross from the home sides right straight into Thompson’s hands.

The attackers shooting boots seemed to have temporarily abandoned them at this period of the game as with 15 minutes left on the clock a Distillery corner was delivered into the box and flicked high up in the air, Henderson came to collect but spilled the ball right at the feet of Igiehon. The Distillery number nine however, uncharacteristically sent his shot crashing against the bar from little more than two yards out. Three minutes later up the other end Salley got on the end of another cross from the Distillery left but the usually lethal striker flicked his headed effort wide of the goal when most would have backed him to complete his hat-trick.

Sunnyside and Salley would come to regret these missed chances as with 81 minutes played Distillery regained the lead after Storey played a perfectly timed ball over the top towards Keke, the opening goalscorer controlled with his chest and squared to Lynch who finished well first time past Henderson.

There was still time for drama as we headed into added time, of which there was sure to be at least five minutes due to the various stoppages. Firstly, the home side were reduced to ten men as Smith was given his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Storey.

Then in the 94th minute Distillery hearts were in mouths when this time it was substitute Cody Ferris’ turn to get on the end of a low pass from the home sides right. The Sunnyside player had managed to create some space to shoot for what looked to be a certain equaliser to send the game to extra-time but Thompson did well to get his body behind the ball and keep it out, the Whites stopper clinging on for dear life while Ferris’ frustration was clear for all to see.

A minute later Distillery made sure of the win when Storey collected the ball after a Sunnyside attack broke down and interlinked with substitute Justin Grattan on the left. Grattan then switched the play out to McVicker on the other side who cut infield only for his attempted cross to be blocked by a defender. Storey however had continued his charge forward and picked up the loose ball, lofting it towards the back post where Ben Napier, introduced just moments before, guided home his first goal for the club.

An entertaining game at Knockramer Park was soon after brought to a close and their loyal supporters greeted the Distillery players and management team with a rousing ovation off the pitch.

The 2nd round of the Clearer Water Irish Cup will take place on Saturday 13th September with the Whites finding out their opponents in due course, in the meantime focus turns to the League Cup and the visit of Banbridge Town on Tuesday night.

Full Time: Oxford Sunnyside 2-4 Lisburn Distillery

Lisburn Distillery; Thompson, Lewis, Lavery, McCart, Lynch, Igiehon, Keke, Boyd, McVicker, Storey, Crawford

Lisburn Distillery substitutions; McKenna, Sharkey, Grattan (for Boyd, 65 mins), Robinson, Napier (for Keke, 83 mins)