Young Whites suffer home defeat against Lurgan Celtic

A young Lisburn Distillery side put in a spirited performance against Irish cup semi finalists Lurgan Celtic, but found the more experienced side too hot to handle on Saturday afternoon going down four-nil.
On Saturday Lisburn Distillery defender Ciaran Burns (right) was presented with the Grosvenor Whites Supporter's Club Player of the Year Award by Bobby Radcliffe (left) and Thomas Sharkey. Picture - David Hunter.On Saturday Lisburn Distillery defender Ciaran Burns (right) was presented with the Grosvenor Whites Supporter's Club Player of the Year Award by Bobby Radcliffe (left) and Thomas Sharkey. Picture - David Hunter.
On Saturday Lisburn Distillery defender Ciaran Burns (right) was presented with the Grosvenor Whites Supporter's Club Player of the Year Award by Bobby Radcliffe (left) and Thomas Sharkey. Picture - David Hunter.

It was the visitors who started the more lively and nearly went ahead on six minutes as Dale Malone brought off a great reaction save from the Whites young keeper Kyle Brown, who got down smartly to push Malone’s shot around the post for a corner.

The game was only flowing one way, with the next chance going Celtic’s way when an in swinging ball flew along the Distillery goal line begging for someone to get a touch to it but somehow all the flying boots failed to get a boot on the ball.

Then against the run of play the Whites had a glorious chance to go ahead when the ball fell to Rhys Grainger but he failed to control the ball and got his feet in a tangle as he watched the ball glide past .

On Saturday Lisburn Distillery midfielder Lee Chapman (centre) was presented with the Grosvenor Whites Supporter's Club Young Player of the Year Award by Bobby Radcliffe (right) and Cameron Moore. Picture - David Hunter.On Saturday Lisburn Distillery midfielder Lee Chapman (centre) was presented with the Grosvenor Whites Supporter's Club Young Player of the Year Award by Bobby Radcliffe (right) and Cameron Moore. Picture - David Hunter.
On Saturday Lisburn Distillery midfielder Lee Chapman (centre) was presented with the Grosvenor Whites Supporter's Club Young Player of the Year Award by Bobby Radcliffe (right) and Cameron Moore. Picture - David Hunter.

On twenty four minutes Celtic were awarded a penalty when the young keeper and a Distillery defender chasing down a ball took out the incoming Celtic striker and from the resulting spot kick sent Celtic into a deserved lead.

Within seven minutes Lurgan Celtic doubled their lead when the Distillery defence failed to clear the ball and allowed Aaron Haire to head past the despairing keeper.

Just approaching half-time disaster struck for the Whites, with only two minutes to go to the break an in swinging cross from Steven Hutchinson slipped through the hands of the young keeper and on the stroke of half-time it was four when a long range effort from Brendan Shannon found the net.

The second half started briskly with the Whites showing more commitment and a new urgency with young Darius Roohi working hard, he could have found the net only to see his final touch let him down .

On Saturday Lisburn Distillery midfielder Lee Chapman (centre) was presented with the Grosvenor Whites Supporter's Club Young Player of the Year Award by Bobby Radcliffe (right) and Cameron Moore. Picture - David Hunter.On Saturday Lisburn Distillery midfielder Lee Chapman (centre) was presented with the Grosvenor Whites Supporter's Club Young Player of the Year Award by Bobby Radcliffe (right) and Cameron Moore. Picture - David Hunter.
On Saturday Lisburn Distillery midfielder Lee Chapman (centre) was presented with the Grosvenor Whites Supporter's Club Young Player of the Year Award by Bobby Radcliffe (right) and Cameron Moore. Picture - David Hunter.

The Whites first serious shot came on sixty two minutes when a crisp shot from Grainger brought off a great save from Gavin O’Neil in the Celtic goal.

The Whites, putting in a good second half performance, nearly got on the score sheet when a ball fell to the feet of Grainger who from only yards out managed to screw his shot over the bar.

Distillery continued to claw something from the game but their final finishing was letting them down but it was a more industrious second half from the Whites.

LDFC Team v Lurgan Celtic: Brown, Pearce, Burns, Simpson, Begley, McDonnell, McIlhagga, Chapman, Halfpenny, Roohi, Grainger

Subs: Murtagh, Trohear, Gibson

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