Rosemount Rec v Lisburn Distillery (Clearer Water Irish Cup 3rd Round) – Saturday 4th November 2023

Lisburn Distillery travelled to Islandview Road on Saturday to face Rosemount Rec in the 3^rd round of the Irish Cup, knowing that a win would bring home advantage against Ballymoney United in the 4^th round later this month.

Of course, Distillery fans did not have happy memories of this venue as we crashed out of the Intermediate Cup at the first hurdle last season, losing 3-2 against the same opponents.

The game has quite a slow start to it, in the seventh minute Michael Gallagher sent a dangerous looking cross into the box towards Ryan McNickle and Justin Grattan but a home defender was able to get his head to the ball to clear the danger.

Around the ten-minute mark, the Whites won three corners in quick succession but this spell of pressure ended with Johnny Newell shooting over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Rosemount scored the first goal of the same in the 16^th minute, Craig Robinson punched a long-range shot away and when the Distillery goalkeeper tried to claim the loose ball, it seemed to spin away from him and Reece Ritchie got there first and rolled the ball into the empty net.

The home side were on top at this stage and almost doubled their lead in the 23^rd minute when they broke through on goal with only Robinson to beat but this time the ‘keeper was able to divert the ball behind for a corner.

The Whites did have a couple of sights of goal in the last 15 minutes of the half, firstly Joe Tully knocked a long ball down to Robert Geddis but Rosemount goalkeeper, Christopher Rice, stopped his shot. Three minutes later Tully himself tried his luck from inside the box, his effort was blocked by what looked like the hand of an opposition player but the Distillery appeals were ignored.

The half time whistle brought to an end what had been a very poor first half for the Whites with a big improvement needed after the break to have any chance of progressing to the next round.

Half Time: Rosemount Rec 1-0 Lisburn Distillery

The Whites had a great chance to equalise five minutes after the break, the ball was played into the box towards Tully but Rice beat the number 10 to the ball but could only clear the ball into the path of Gallagher and he could not keep his shot from the edge of the box below the bar.

Distillery would live to regret this missed opportunity as four minutes later Rosemount doubled their lead. The Whites seemed to switch off from a throw in deep into the home sides half and before anyone could react Ritchie had taken the ball around Robinson on the edge of the box and directed the ball goalwards and over the line.

Things worsened for Barry Johnston’s side on the hour mark when Tully was given his marching orders for a second yellow card after a late challenge on Dillon Turnbull.

The visitors had a rare effort on goal in the 67^th minute, Gerard Storey went for goal with a 25 yard free kick but Rice was equal to it but soon after Distillery were given a lifeline when a Whites player went down in the box and this time the referee did point to the spot. Storey stepped up and sent the ball straight down the middle to pull Johnston’s side back into the game.

Unfortunately, any hopes of a comeback were almost instantly put to bed when Ritchie completed his hat-trick and in the process restore Rosemount’s two-goal advantage, despite the Distillery players and coaches furious appeals that there had been an offside. In the aftermath of the third goal Distillery assistant manager, Stephen Hughes, was also sent off for allegedly protesting too much.

In the 83^rd minute Rosemount had a chance to make it 4-1 when Robinson came a long way off his line but could not clear the danger but fortunately the covering Johnny Angus was able to clear the danger but a minute later the fourth goal did come when Ritchie headed home from a free kick on the left.

Seconds team players Tyler Craig and David Rafferty were introduced late in their game for their first team debuts and the latter made an almost immediate impact shooting home from outside the box to make it 4-2.

The referee eventually called time on what had been a dismal day for the Whites, who now have two weeks to wait before we are next in action when we travel to Tobermore in the Intermediate Cup.

Full Time: Rosemount Rec 4-2 Lisburn Distillery

Lisburn Distillery; Robinson, Lewis, Geddis, Hoy, Angus, Newell, Grattan, Storey, McNickle, Tully, Gallagher

Lisburn Distillery substitutions; Carry, Rafferty (for Newell, 90 mins), McCart, Craig (for Grattan, 85 mins), Johnston, McDermott, Woods

Match report by Cameron Moore (@cameron2604)

David Hunter’s picture gallery from this game can be found @ https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB2iET