Time running out as the Whites lose again

The "Deegan Free-kickers" won the Distillery Supporters Trust (DST) Quiz last Friday. Members of the winning team are pictured along DST members. Picture - David Hunter.

Lisburn Distillery 0

Lisburn Distillery took on Institute at the Riverside Stadium last Saturday in a crucial match as the Whites hope to avoid relegation, with just eight matches of the season remaining.

Institute had the first chance of the game as Jamie McIntyre crossed into the back post for Michael McCrudden but his shot was well charged down by Patrick Pierce and the ball rebounded away.

Gerard McErlean had to be alert early on as first Michael McCrudden and then Shane McGinty had attempts on goal.

Institute had started the brighter, and Lee Chapman had to react quickly to clear the ball off the line for the Whites.

Distillery’s first chance came on twenty two minutes as Lee Chapman delivered in a sweet cross to the back post, the flight of the ball catching out ‘Stute keeper Martin Gallagher, as the ball just whipped wide of the post.

Distillery were finding it hard to get out of their half as Institute were dominating with the ball.

Institute took the lead on the stroke of half time as Jamie McIntyre crossed into the box for McGinty to head past McErlean, a really poor goal defensively for the Whites to give away.

However the Whites should have gone in level when a misplaced Ciaron Harkin backpass found Niall Atkinson one on one, surely having to score, but he missed a real sitter hitting a weak effort at Gallagher in the ‘Stute goal.

Institute went 2-0 ahead immediately at the start of the second half. McErlean made a couple of great saves, but the ball came back out to McGinty who fired the ball into the roof the net after very poor defending from Distillery, allowing the home side to get five shots of on goal.

Distillery had a perfect chance to pull a goal back after a poor ‘Stute mistake, the ball falling to Stephen Doyle who played in Joe McDonnell before he struck the ball wide from the edge of the area.

‘Stute, however, went three ahead as Gareth Browne was played through by Sean Roddy and he fired the ball past McErlean.

It really was turning into a disaster of a day for the Whites, who were being completely played off the park by the most inform side in the division.

The rest of the game fizzed out, a very poor performance from Distillery.

With just eight games to go in the league, it’s looking like dark days ahead for Sean Paul Murray’s side in the battle against relegation.