Irish Premier League

28th August

Lisburn Distillery 2  Glentoran 0

Glentoran Get Lis-Burned

Glentoran's early season form went to the dogs today as they crashed 2-0 to Lisburn Distillery at Ballyskeagh. A first half strike from Darren Armour and a Colin Nixon own goal were enough for last season's first division winners to dispose of the Premiership champions.

For Paul Kirk's side it is an unbeaten start to the new campaign and after three games they sit proudly at the top of the league. Glentoran will have alot of thinking to do before Tuesday's Big Two derby with Linfield. The game started in lightning fashion with Glentoran left back John Kennedy booked for the first foul of the game - a challenge from behind in the first minute.  And five minutes later things got even worse for the Glens when they went a goal down.

A long free kick from Chris Deegan found it's way to Johnny Clapham on the right, he ran into the box before squaring the ball to Armour five yards from goal and he blasted into the roof of the net. The Whites front line were causing all sorts of problems in and around the Glentoran box but the final ball was lacking.

Gradually the Glens began to find room to play the ball around and on several occasions they could have capitalised on great opportunities. Three minutes before the interval the Whites were lucky to hang on when Scott Young's dipping volley was tipped over the bar by home keeper Andy McDonald. In injury time totally against the run of play the Whites doubled their lead thanks to a Colin Nixon own goal although Jim McCloskey was claiming it. Glens keeper Alan Gough parried Gary Clifford's long range shot then came Armour's effort from the rebound again saved only for the onrushing Nixon to divert the ball into the empty net under pressure from McCloskey.

Glens boss Roy Coyle made a change at half time bringing on winger Tim McCann in place of Nixon in an attempt to get back into the game.

Again high balls into the Whites penalty area was all the Glens could muster in the opening ten minutes of the second half which was easily dealt with by McDonald. Substitute McCann was the only spark in the Glentoran side and he went mighty close to grabbing a life line on 63 minutes. He received the ball just inside the box took one touch turned and dispatched the sweetist of volleys which rattled the crossbar and flew over.  

By this stage it was all Glentoran pressure without the final ball. Elliott and Hamill both tried their luck from long range and they began to run out of ideas and substiute Darren Finlay saw his weak free kick sail past the post

Teams

Referee Mr Jim Peden