Rangers Under-18s retain cup

LISBURN Rangers u18’s travelled to Holm Park, the home of Armagh City, to play Ballinamallard in the Décor Cup final. Lisburn’s route to the final saw them defeat league and Harry Cavan Youth Cup winners Armagh 2-0 in the first round.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Jun 2012, 11:45 BST

They then eased past Rockview United in the quarter final and Markethill Swifts in the semi final, winning 5-1 and 7-2 respectively, to reach their third cup final in two seasons.

The final itself started brightly for Lisburn who went on the front foot from the first whistle. Just minutes into the game, Smith had a great chance to give them an early lead, only to be thwarted by a good save from the Mallard keeper. Lisburn had the next couple of chances in the first ten minutes when Beckett and Taggart were unlucky not to give them the early lead to calm any nerves.

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Ballinamallard had their first chance on the twenty minute mark, when their pacey forward shot wide under pressure. However, it was Lisburn who took the deserved lead midway through the first half. A great through ball from Taggart found Smith, who shot powerfully to leave the keeper no chance and make it 1-0 to Lisburn.

The goal seemed to spark life into the Ballinamallard team just before half time and they almost equalised, only for a great save by keeper Tinsley to keep the score line 1-0 at half time.

The second half started slowly as both teams began to look nervous. Ballinamallard had the first chance, only for their forward to mistime his header and make it comfortable for Lisburn to defend. Ballinamallard did however equalise on 75 minutes, when a mix-up in the Lisburn defence, allowed the forward to nip past Tinsley and slot the ball in the net for 1-1.

Lisburn almost took the lead again straight away when a ball from the right found Mateus, only for his header to crash against the bar and to safety, away from the on-rushing Lisburn forwards. On 86 minutes Lisburn’s luck changed when they were awarded a free kick in a good position. McDowell’s great cross from the right, again found Mateus, who managed to flick the ball into the net and make it 2-1 with only minutes to go. In the 89th minute Mallard thought they had equalised, only for the assistant referee to give offside. Lisburn held on to their 2-1 advantage to retain the Décor Cup, with Lisburn’s Ryan Smith being awarded the Man of the Match award, for his tireless work throughout the game.

The Lisburn Rangers cup winning squad was; Tinsley, McDowell, Scott, Larmour, Paterson (c), Boyd, Anderson, Beckett, Taggart, Smith, Mateus, Davidson, Quinn, Cameron, Heron, Orr and Connolly.

Related topics:LisburnArmagh City