Match Report v Portstewart (h) 20/4/24

Lisburn Distillery v Portstewart (Playr-Fit Teamwear Premier Intermediate League) – Saturday 20th April 2024

Portstewart were the visitors to New Grosvenor on Saturday for the penultimate home game of the season and last Saturday home game of the 2023/2024 season.

Barry Johnston made no changes to the starting eleven from the previous weeks 2-1 win at home to Tobermore.

There was an early sight of goal for the Whites when Gerard Storey got to the ball after a header from a defender back to Billy McDowell fell short after three minutes but practically on the bye-line and quickly crowded by defenders the number 10 was unable to conjure anything up on this occasion.

Three minutes later up the other end a cross into the box found a visiting player but he hooked his effort over the crossbar.

There was not long to wait for the opening goal as after 12 minutes Ryan McNickle picked up the ball after a poor touch from a defender and kept a cool head to slot past McDowell and put the Whites ahead.

After going behind the visitors had some opportunities to equalise around the 20 minute mark but John Watt and Ryan Doherty were unable to find the target and shortly after McNickle and Joe Tully also missed the mark at the other end.

With 30 minutes gone a corner from Storey found Tully in space but his first team effort was blocked by a defender and the half hearted appeals for a handball were ignored.

There were more legitimate appeals for a penalty three minutes later when McNickle was brought down in the area trying to control the ball, but again these fell on deaf ears.

With five minutes to go to the break Portstewart looked certain to equalise when Doherty had only Ethan Carry to break after a counterattack but the Distillery ‘keeper made a good save low to his left.

In the 43rd minute Distillery sought to breakaway following a Portstewart attack, McNickle passed to Storey who played a great ball out to Josh Lynch on the left, the midfielder cut infield but his shot went across goal and just wide.

On the stroke of half time Distillery appeals for a penalty were again turned away after Tully went down but the ball reached Jack Berry om the left hand side of the box, though McDowell turned his shot behind.

In the end the Whites went into the interval ahead with McNickle’s goal the difference between the sides.

Half Time: Lisburn Distillery 1-0 Portstewart

It was a slow start to the second half with Distillery largely on top but the only efforts of note on goal were from Berry and McNickle from outside the box, McDowell saved the formers effort comfortably and the latter missed the target.

With just over 20 minutes to go McNickle looked almost certain to double the Whites, and his own, tally but somehow he put Berry’s cross over the crossbar from a yard out much to his dismay.

Distillery did have the ball in the visitors net for a second time in the 75th minute through a Fra Brennan header but the assistant referee’s flag was raised and four minutes later Storey because the latest Whites player to go down in the box but found his name in the referees book, who obviously felt the midfielder went down too easily.

With ten minutes to go McNickle had what would prove to be the Whites last real effort on goal but his shot from just inside the box was saved by McDowell.

The visitors applied some pressure in the closing ten minutes but the closest they came to equalising was in the third minute of added time when Carry had to beat away a close ranger effort following a long throw.

There was one final talking point in the 94th minute when while attempting to shrug off a Portstewart player who had a hold of his short after the ball had went out of play, substitute Curtis Woods caught the opposing player with an elbow and was given a straight red card. This means that the Whites defender will be suspended for the final two games of the season and the first of next season.

Finally the full time whistle blew and McNickle’s early goal was enough for Distillery to win a largely forgettable game and move up to 8th in the table.

Full Time: Lisburn Distillery 1-0 Portstewart

Lisburn Distillery; Carry, Lewis, Geddis, Brennan, Whiteway, Lynch, Berry, Grattan, McNickle, Storey, Tully

Lisburn Distillery substitutions; Woods (for Tully, 73 mins), Sharkey, Devenny (for McNickle, 88 mins), McComb, Lundy, McCary (for Lynch, 88 mins), Angus