Match Report v Tobermore United (a) 9/3/24

Tobermore United v Lisburn Distillery (Playr-Fit Teamwear Premier Intermediate League) – Saturday 9th March 2024

Lisburn Distillery made the trip to Fortwilliam Park on Saturday for the second time this season, hoping to put right the 3-1 defeat in the Intermediate Cup earlier this season and make it back-to-back league wins.

Barry Johnston made two changes from the 5-1 win against Moyola, Dean Lewis and Breandan O’Neill replaced Justin Grattan and Robert Geddis.

Distillery had a couple of early sights on goal through Joe Tully but he was unable to find the target and with 15 minutes on the clock, a pass to Ryan McNickle took a slight touch off a defender. This kept the number nine onside but he seemed to rush his shot and again did not trouble Connor Brown in goals for the home side.

In the 16th minute Tobermore threatened for the first time and looked all set to take a certain lead when Daniel McIlhatton got the ball in space but Ethan Carry spread himself and turned the ball over for a corner.

Brown was tested for the first team when he punched away a shot from Jack Berry after the winger cut infield and lit rip with a shot from just outside the box, McNickle got to the rebound but his shot from a tight angle was punched behind for a corner, which came to nothing.

Brown came to Tobermore’s rescue again with just over 30 minutes played, he tipped a Tully header from a corner over the bar and moment before that a Berry effort from another corner, taken short, was deflected behind for a corner by a defender.

Distillery had further opportunities to threaten the Tobermore goal but were unable to find the target or trouble Brown in between the posts and in the end, the two sides went in at the break on level terms.

Half Time: Tobermore United 0-0 Lisburn Distillery

After the break, Johnston’s side went on the attack right away and less than a minute in Tully attempted to find Berry with a low cross from the right but this was cleared but only as far as the Distillery number eleven. Take two found Berry but Brown managed to hold his shot from close range.

Two minutes later Berry sent a cross into the box from the left but it was just too far behind McNickle and a well-placed defender blocked Tully’s shot.

Gerard Storey was the next to threaten the Tobermore goal with two long range efforts but both were dealt with by Brown and between these two Carry had to save a header from the unmarked McIlhatton following a corner virtually on the line.

With just over 20 minutes to go Distillery survived a scare when Carry made good save from a long range shot low to his left and McIlhatton scooped the ball over the bar when it looked easier to score.

In the 73rd minute O’Neill had a glorious chance to break the deadlock and put the Whites ahead when a Berry cross found him at the back post but the Distillery player sliced his shot off target.

With ten minutes to go the Whites were left regretting their missed opportunities when Ciaran McKeever sent a cross from the left into the box that made its way across goal and found Carry’s bottom left hand corner, putting the home side ahead.

Distillery sought to press for an equaliser during the remainder of the game and substitute Jamie Devenny looked to make an immediate impact when he tried to latch onto a long free kick from Carry but Brown beat him to the ball. Then in injury time, a header from a corner was cleared away from almost off the line by a Tobermore defender.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be a frustrating day to forget for the Whites as despite controlling much of the game and having plenty of chances, they came out second best for the second time this season at Fortwilliam Park. We now face another away game this Saturday, against basement side PSNI.

Full Time: Tobermore United 1-0 Lisburn Distillery

Lisburn Distillery; Carry, Lewis, O’Neill, Angus, Brennan, Lynch, Berry, Newell, McNickle, Storey, Tully

Lisburn Distillery substitutions; McConnellogue, Geddis, Grattan (for Lynch, 86 mins), Devenny (for Newell, 83 mins), Clougherty, Whiteway (for Angus, 63 mins), McVarnock

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