Cup exit for Distillery

The opening period saw the Whites midfield gather pace knocking the ball comfortably around the middle of the park and it was no surprise when they took the lead on nine minutes as a Stephen Doyle cross played in William Bingham at the back post his neat touch seeing him bypass a Carrick defender before unleashing a shot that fizzed past Brian Neeson.

This goal stung the hosts into action and they responded with two clear cut chances.

The Whites continued to look threatening on the break and on 27 minutes it was 2-0 to the visitors as Darren Smyth’s effort just nicked inside the post and ended up in the net past the big presence in goal of Neeson leaving him with no chance of saving.

Lisburn Distillery had a superb chance to make it three as Martin Jones played in Smyth but he was superbly tackled by Aiden O’Kane the experienced defender showing his class and experience in the box.

McBride once again showed why he is one of the best goalkeepers in the league after a curling effort was superbly pushed away by the young keeper as the Whites battled hard to maintain their lead.

And then the whole game began to change as the hosts were awarded an exceptionally soft penalty as Sargent and Chines jostled for the ball and the referee adjudged a foul had been committed by the Distillery defender. Up stepped Chines to make it 1-2 just before the break and give the hosts hope which prior to that had seemed lost.

The second half began in unsightly fashion with ultimately a yellow card for former Distillery player, Daniel Kelly and the Whites reduced to 10 men after the ref opted to send off Joe McDonnell for protesting that a red card had not been produced. It became even worse as a second penalty was awarded as Whites defender Darren Nixon cleared the ball off the foot off a Carrick defender only for the ref to say he caught the player first. Up stepped Chines again and it was 2-2.

The home side now had their tails up.

The referee then awarded a third penalty and a second red card. Chines scored again to make it 3-2 and it was as good as game over.

Carrick sealed the win in stoppage time as the outstanding Ben Roy volleyed in Conor McCloskey’s cross to send Carrick into the last sixteen.