Cup exit for Distillery

Lisburn Distillery supporters must have feared for the worst on Monday night when they realised that manager Tommy Kincaid had only eleven fit first team players to choose from and a bench consisting of two injured players and three youth team players for the game against current Irish Cup holders Glenavon.
Player kicks the ball down field.Player kicks the ball down field.
Player kicks the ball down field.

As it happened, however, the players who made the team produced a spirited battling performance and although in the end it wasn’t enough to produce an upset they certainly warranted the plaudits bestowed on them after the game by both home and away sets of supporters.

The Whites started brightly with both Jones and McDonnell having decent chances in the opening minutes and they eventually broke the deadlock on 16 minutes when a perfect cross from William Bingham was met sweetly on the half volley by Darren Smyth who smashed the ball into the home net.

Glenavon fought back and almost levelled immediately with Kevin Braniff’s effort cleared off the goal line by the Whites defence but the scores were finally tied on 26 minutes when the Lurgan Blues player manager Gary Hamilton was on hand to prod home from six yards after Ryan McBride had saved from Braniff.

McBride was having a good game and made another acrobatic save just before the break to tip over an Adam Foley effort and then the Whites produced another half chance this time from Bingham whose effort was scooped up by the home keeper James McGrath.

One goal apiece then at the break but with the Whites producing some decent flowing football the first chance of the second half was also to come their way. A great through ball found the busy Smyth in the clear, he rounded the keeper with ease and shot goalwards only for Winky Murphy to slide in to clear the ball off the line.

After this Glenavon hit the crossbar thanks to a thunderous strike from Foley and indeed they eventually got their reward when, on 77 minutes, a wicked free kick by Hamilton was glanced in by Foley.

The Whites pressed hard to get back in the game but in the end it was the hosts who grabbed the all important strike right on the final whistle when Andy Hoey converted from close range.

It was disappointment again then for the Whites but a really impressive performance from which the players should draw heart from. LDFC team: McBride, Kirgan, Nixon, Burns, Derry, Kopyt, McDonnell, Bingham, Jones, Smyth, White. Subs: McIlhagga, Sargent, Crowe, Morrison, Kane (none used).

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