Match Report v Portavogie Rangers 2/8/25

Lisburn Distillery v Portavogie Rangers (ToalsBet.com Steel & Sons Cup 1st Round) – Saturday 2nd August 2025

The 2025 / 2026 season got underway on Saturday with a home game against Portavogie Rangers in the Steel & Sons Cup.

Stephen Hughes, embarking on his first full campaign as Whites manager after taking over as caretaker manager in March and being appointed permanently the following month, named six new signings in his starting eleven for the game; goalkeeper Ruadhan McKenna, centre back Caleb Crawford, central midfielder Aaron Boyd and attacking players Benny Igiehon, Abiola Sanusi and Guillaume Keke.

Before the game both sides observed a minutes silence in memory of Dollingstown Secretary, and former Dollybirds player and captain, Aaron Moffett who tragically lost his life on Friday after being involved in a car accident last month. Our thoughts are with our friends at Dollingstown and with Aaron’s family and friendship circle at this time and will continue to be in the difficult days and weeks ahead.

The new season got off to a perfect start for Distillery as with barely 50 seconds on the clock Leon Lavery’s throw-in from the left was flicked on by Sanusi to Igiehon, the big number nine controlled with his chest and fired a left footed finish past Harry Wallace in the Portavogie goals to put the New Grosvenor side ahead.

In the opening 15 minutes, the Whites were largely in control of the game and Lavery and Boyd sought to add to the lead with efforts from outside the box but both were unable to find the target. Then on 16 minutes summer signing Crawford, who showed an eye for goal during pre-season, got on the end of a free kick delivered by Boyd but saw his back post header saved by Wallace.

The visitors had their first effort of note after 20 minutes when Jude Carlisle turned his opponent and tried his luck from 30 yards but the Portavogie number 10 was falling backwards as he struck the ball and as a result could not generate much power behind his effort and the result was a comfortable save for McKenna.

The same visiting player tried his luck on McKenna’s goal again three minutes later but once again, the Whites stopper was not troubled too much, parrying away the long-range effort and gathering the ball in at the second attempt. It would have to be said though that the visitors were now starting to see more of the ball and winning a few set pieces, a second goal soon would certainly add another layer of comfort to the Distillery supporters watching on.

That second goal would come with 30 minutes on the clock, Boyd was fouled out in the left channel and Lavery sent a delightful low cross into the six-yard box with Igiehon getting enough on the ball to guide it past Wallace for his and the Whites second goal of the game.

The rest of the opening 45 minutes passed largely without incident and Distillery trooped back into the changing room at half-time a two-goal margin to the good without reply.

Half-Time: Lisburn Distillery 2-0 Portavogie Rangers

Hughes’ side almost added to the lead in the 51st minute when Dean Lewis, wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of the injured Aaron Cochrane, floated a cross into the visitors box from the right. For a moment, it looked as if the ball might just creep under the crossbar but Wallace recovered to get both hands to it before it crossed the line.

The Portavogie goalkeeper was also called to action to deny Igiehon, Boyd and half-time substitute Ben Napier, showing good reflexes and positioning with the latter save to keep the ball out from close range after the Distillery debutant flicked another fine cross from Lavery goalwards.

Distillery scored their third goal of the game in the 67th minute with Keke nodding home Lavery’s inch perfect delivery from an in-swinging corner to join Igiehon on the scoresheet on his debut. Then, a little less than 10 minutes later, the two debutants combined forces to make it four, with Igiehon getting on the end of Lavery’s pass, shrugging off the attention of an opposition defender and beating another before selflessly passing to Keke who shot across goal into Wallace’s bottom left hand corner.

Despite their comfortable lead Distillery showed no signs of taking their foot off the gas and in the 83rd minute Lavery, whose performance may not get the credit he deserves due to his teammates goalscoring exploits, found Boyd with another beautiful cross from the left but the midfielder could not keep his effort below the crossbar. Three minutes later Keke cut in from the left after beating a defender and sensing a chance at his hat-trick took the ball past another defender and went for goal but Portavogie captain, and former Distillery player, William Armstrong deflected his shot behind for a corner.

The number 10’s perfect debut was made complete though in the closing stages of the game as he got on the end of a Lewis cross from the right and sent a looping header over Wallace and across the line to complete his hat-trick and make it 5-0 to Distillery.

In the end bar a brief period in the first half, it was a comfortable enough win for the Ballyskeagh men on the opening day of the season and we now have another home game to look forward to on Saturday week in the 2nd round against Colin Valley. Before that though we travel to fellow Premier Intermediate League side Oxford Sunnyside this Saturday in the 1st round of the Irish Cup in what is sure to be a good test for both sides.

Full Time: Lisburn Distillery 5-0 Portavogie Rangers

Lisburn Distillery; McKenna, Lewis, Lavery, McCart, Lynch, Igiehon, Keke, Boyd, Grattan, Crawford, Sanusi Lisburn Distillery substitutions; Thompson, Brennan (for Grattan, 68 mins), Sharkey, Napier (for Sanusi, 46 mins), Geddis (for Igiehon, 80 mins)