‘Same old, same old’ for Distillery as Kincaid bemoans missed chances

The Whites were twice beaten by Bangor, who are now sitting at the top of the Championship One table.

First, they lost 3-1 at New Grosvenor on Saturday, despite a first-half equaliser from Mikey Withers, who netted for the second game in a row by smashing a superb 20 yard effort into the bottom corner.

Goals from ex-white Mark Cooling, Ethan Boyland and Colin Nixon, however, ensured the win for Bangor.

The score-line was worse on Tuesday, as Bangor ran out 6-2 victors. This time three ex-Distillery men found the net for Bangor in Cooling, Grant Gardiner and Jordan Forsythe. Andy Morrow bagged a brace while Distillery defender Darren Nixon added his brother’s goal in the last game by finishing into his own net.

Withers bagged his third goal in as many games for the Whites while Jimmy McIlhagga was also on target but boss Tommy Kincaid again said it was the nature of the two side’s finishing that proved the difference in the scoreline.

“It was really just the same old, same old for us,” he said.

“There was never four goals between the two sides on Tuesday evening. We created a lot of chances in the second half but, again, we didn’t take them. Any time they had an opportunity, it was in the net.

“We knocked the ball about quite well, we created chances but we didn’t takes ours and they did. That was the difference between the sides.

“We have been competing with the best of them this season. The scoreline hasn’t always looked like we have been but to the people who are at the games, football people understand that we weren’t over-run by these teams. We competed with the likes of Bangor, Dundela, the Welders and Institute.
“The score-lines look like we’ve been well beaten but often we haven’t. Other teams have punished us any time we’ve made a mistake and taken their chances.”

This weekend, Distillery round off their season as they host Dergview at New Grosvenor (kick-off 3pm). The Whites have little to play for in their final game of the current campaign but Distillery’s boss is keen to end the year on a positive note.

Kincaid said: “I selected a team on Saturday and told all the guys on the bench that they would start on Saturday. I want to give all the guys game time before the end of the season.

“We want to end things on a high and with a positive feeling because the presentation of the awards is on after the game on Saturday night.”

And as the season draws to a close, Kincaid reckons he’ll have to wait to start ringing the changes in his squad.

“Every manager is looking ahead to the transfer window at this stage,” he said. “It’s early days yet though. No matter how many players you want to get in, other managers are still deciding what they’re doing and it’ll just take a few more weeks for things to settle down yet.”