Lisburn Distillery 2
BANBRIDGE Town succumbed to Europa League-bound Lisburn Distillery in their first pre-season friendly on Saturday afternoon.
And based on Saturday’s showing Town will have a lot of work to do ahead of the forthcoming Champi
onship season as they looked sluggish, disorganised and out of their depth against a Distillery side that barely needed to get out of first gear.
Town started off in a 4-5-1 formation – possibly more to do with a lack of front men available to boss Colin Malone than a tactical move; winger Stuart Bickerstaff moved into an unfamiliar role up front in the second half when Nigel Watt came off – however despite a heavily packed midfield Town never created anything from open play except for one move and a half chance at the end of the game.
As for Distillery new boss Jimmy Brown has been exceptionally busy in the transfer market and his side included two new faces – Aaron Callaghan, who only joined the Whites on Friday night, and Philip Simpson, formerly of Glentoran. But there was no place for star signing Glenn Ferguson, although he was at Crystal Park to watch his new team mates in action.
It took 20 minutes for the game to have its first chance and it was no surprise that it fell to the Whites who had been enjoying most of the possession. Unfortunately for Simpson though his shot went above Gareth Buchanan’s crossbar.
For all the talk of Distillery’s new boys it was one of the old hands that put them in front a minute later. A Pat McShane wonderstrike from the edge of the area left the Town goalkeeper stranded.
Darren Armour could have made it 2-0 on 23 minutes but his outstretched toe-poke was straight at Buchanan. Armour again pulled the trigger on 29 minutes but he pulled his shot wide of the Town goal.
Town’s only chance of the first half came on the half hour mark. Town won a free kick 25 yards away from goal and three big attackers lined up, waiting for a cross. Dale Malone, however, had other ideas and he struck the dead ball straight at Paul Murphy.
The final chance of the half came when Chris Kingsberry knocked down a cross which had beaten Buchanan, only for Ricky Copeland to clear it off the line.
The Distillery pressure did not relent in the second period and they had their first chance five minutes into the half. Melaugh laid off Kingsberry but the former Glentoran man scooped his shot over the bar.
Melaugh was proving to be a creative spark in the Whites midfield and he created another opportunity two minutes later, this time linking with Andy Kilmartin but the midfielder’s low drive was blocked by Buchanan.
The difference in fitness was now starting to show through although really this was of no surprise. Distillery already had two full week’s training under their belt and a game against Ballynahinch United to boot.
