Cushley’s crucial strike secures points for Whites

DAVID Cushley’s first half goal proved decisive in the end as Lisburn Distillery continued their good run with victory in Lurgan on Tuesday night.

The win also sees the Whites leapfrog their opponents Glenavon in the table into seventh slot.

It was only the fourth time this season the Whites managed to secure a clean sheet, something manager Tommy Wright has been trying to improve over the past few months.

Helping ensure that clean sheet was goalkeeper Billy Brennan - hero last week in the CIS Cup win over Crusaders - the on loan UCD man was again in top form with several key saves.

Glenavon, who snatched a late draw at The Oval at the weekend, started brightly and brought Brennan into the game at an early stage.

Home striker Gary Hamilton smashed a shot off the crossbar on four minutes and from the follow up Trevor Molloy could only fined the side netting much to the relief of the visiting fans.

Brennan made the first vital save when he got down to smother an effort from Molloy and then denied Hamilton with another fine save as the Lurgan Blues probed for an opener.

Brennan again robbed Hamilton of a goal before the Whites finally got into the game. David Cushley lashed a firm drive which tested home goalkeeper Andrew Plummer. Distillery had now settled and came more into the game and they were rewarded with a goal right on the stroke of half-time.

When the ball fell into the path of Cushley he quickly drilled a low shot through a ruck of players and Plummer was beaten.

Early in the second half the Whites went close to a second goal when Gary Browne had an effort saved and then defender Philip Simpson also had Plummer stretching to keep out his goalbound effort.

Browne should have made life a little easier for the visitors when he was gifted a gaping goal after Plummer had dropped the ball he sent his shot wide of the goal.

Glenavon piled on the pressure towards the end but the defence stood firm with Brennan again alert to deny Walsh.

GLENAVON: Plummer, Shannon, Neill, Magee, Haughey, McDonagh, Walsh, Molloy, Costello, Hamilton, Grant. Subs: Harpur, Miskimmin (Hamilton 71), O’Carroll (Costello 67), Harper, Stewart (McDonagh 67).

LISBURN DISTILLERY: Brennan, McShane, Hunter, Kilmartin, Thompson, Ferguson, Browne, Simpson, Davidson, Cushley, Callaghan. Subs: Cooling (Cushley 82), Patton, Forsyth (Davidson 84), Devlin (McShane 46), Boyle.

REFEREE: Arnold Hunter.