Official Cup

Opel National Arena
Spectators: 195 (Terracing: 147, Seating: 45, VIP seats: 3) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Pearse McWilliam kicked off to start the match. Juvenal Moreira showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tipper Savic in the 4th minute of the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Russell Bennett in the 6th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Brigid Rutherford prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 9 minutes into the game, Hewney Kirby cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Juvenal Moreira was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The supporters of Lisburn Distillery F.C. booed when St. James Gate F.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 12 match minutes in a wonderful position. Tipper Savic didn't get a good kick on the ball. The long shot by Neil Deacon in the 12th minute really tested Brigid Rutherford's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. Derek Findley made a great header on Lisburn Distillery F.C.'s corner, it was just that St. James Gate F.C.'s Brigid Rutherford managed to reach the ball for a save. Lisburn Distillery F.C.'s Juvenal Moreira played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Hewney Kirby in the 16th minute of play. Russell Bennett struck a weak shot in the 17th minute. Brigid Rutherford didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Lisburn Distillery F.C.. 20 minutes into the match, St. James Gate F.C.'s goalkeeper Brigid Rutherford had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Russell Bennett. After a defensive mix-up in St. James Gate F.C.'s zone, Vinnie Talbot stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Brigid Rutherford came out of the goal and Vinnie Talbot tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Lisburn Distillery F.C.'s Russell Bennett got a good chance for a goal in the 22nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Juvenal Moreira came out of the goal in the 24th minute to try and stop a shot by St. James Gate F.C.'s Hewney Kirby. But to his dismay, Hewney Kirby quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-2. In the 27th minute, Lisburn Distillery F.C.'s Russell Bennett dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-2. Brigid Rutherford was out of position in the 30 minute of play, and Russell Bennett capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Russell Bennett really showed his touch with that goal: 2-2. Russell Bennett's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Brigid Rutherford firmly grabbed it by the left post. Brigid Rutherford made an important save on a dangerous shot by Russell Bennett in the 37th minute. Lisburn Distillery F.C.'s Juvenal Moreira played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Hewney Kirby in the 39th minute of play. When Lisburn Distillery F.C.'s Derek Findley in the 41st minute got a chance for a shot 41st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye St. James Gate F.C.'s goalie prevented a goal. Brigid Rutherford made a fantastic save in the 43rd minute, when Russell Bennett sent off a good shot on target. An unexpectedly hard shot by Hewney Kirby in the 45th minute of play forced Lisburn Distillery F.C.'s goalkeeper Juvenal Moreira to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Russell Bennett got free with Brigid Rutherford in the 46th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

St. James Gate F.C. made a substitution. Bannon Glen Crowe replaced Pearse McWilliam. The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Russell Bennett to strike the kick off in the second half. Brigid Rutherford showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Russell Bennett, who was totally free with the ball in the 53rd minute. A collision led to Lisburn Distillery F.C. getting a freekick after 56 minutes play. Derek Findley hit a great ball. Brigid Rutherford showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Derek Findley in the 60th minute of the match. In the 61st minute Russell Bennett shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Brigid Rutherford saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Christopher Shuttleworth during the 65th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Juvenal Moreira acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 66th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Egan McLaughlin. With a little luck, Lisburn Distillery F.C.'s Juvenal Moreira got control of the ball when Bannon Glen Crowe tried to sneak it across the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Russell Bennett in the 78th minute of play forced St. James Gate F.C.'s goalkeeper Brigid Rutherford to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Lisburn Distillery F.C.'s Ian Sloan was substituted for Russell Bennett. Lisburn Distillery F.C.'s Carl Payne was substituted for Christopher Shuttleworth. The supporters of St. James Gate F.C. booed when Lisburn Distillery F.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. Vinnie Talbot didn't get a good kick on the ball. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Duncan Lynch during the 83rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Duncan Lynch kicked well hit freekick during the 83rd minute of the match. After recieving a nice pass, St. James Gate F.C.'s Tipper Savic tried to score from far away in the 85th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. Brigid Rutherford made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ian Sloan in the 87th minute of play. If Ian Sloan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Brigid Rutherford showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ian Sloan in the 89th minute of the match. Brigid Rutherford showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ian Sloan, who was totally free with the ball in the 91st minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Hewney Kirby in the 98th minute of play forced Lisburn Distillery F.C.'s goalkeeper Juvenal Moreira to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. St. James Gate F.C. were unable to convert their possession into goals, allowing Lisburn Distillery F.C. to leave the ground with a draw.