Whites hit for six by Ballyclare Comrades

Ballyclare Comrades left New Grosvenor on Saturday with all three points having handed out a real hiding to hosts Lisburn Distillery.
Distillery's Colm Kirgan with Ballyclare's Randal Reid during Saturdays Championship 1 game at Ballyskeagh. Pic by William Cherry/PresseyeDistillery's Colm Kirgan with Ballyclare's Randal Reid during Saturdays Championship 1 game at Ballyskeagh. Pic by William Cherry/Presseye
Distillery's Colm Kirgan with Ballyclare's Randal Reid during Saturdays Championship 1 game at Ballyskeagh. Pic by William Cherry/Presseye

The Whites’ eight game unbeaten league run came to an end with defeat to Armagh in their last Championship One match and the Whites scarcely looked like bouncing back last week.

It was no surprise then when the visitors created the first real chance of the game as, after Bradley Morton chopped down Randal Reid just outside the area,

Samuel McIlveen curled the free-kick around the wall only for a superb save by McBride diving to his right to push the ball away from goal.

These early warning signs weren’t heeded as four minutes later Comrades won a corner which was swung in by Adam McCart and an unmarked Andrew Doyle was allowed to head gracefully into the net,

Ballyclare then went two up. The Whites lost possession in midfield allowing Gary Brown to run into space before slipping a beautiful pass to Andrew Simpson, who smashed past an unsighted McBride.

Distillery were soon somehow back in the game again when the elements gave them a boost with a real freak goal from Martin Jones. From a crossing position, he whipped the ball into the area only to see it float over Paddy Flood’s head and into the net.

Their hopes of a comeback were shortlived as Eddie Hill’s side then once and for all took full control of the game, Simpson’s effort deflecting wickedly off Darren Nixon and in.

Heads were dropping all over the place in the home team and things then went from bad to worse as Randal Reid picked up the loose ball to skip his way into the box before coolly slotting low into the net. And minutes later it was almost five as a McCart shot was well blocked by Colm Kirgan.

Distillery pulled a goal back on 42 as Flood parried a swirling effort onto the crossbar when it rebounded to the clinical Sean Southam and he duly obliged in poking the ball over the line for his 14th goal of the campaign.

Ballyclare bagged a fifth as Brown once again wasn’t picked up out wide and he jinked his way into the box before finishing well.

Andrew Simpson grabbed his hat trick for Ballyclare as he was allowed to speed into the box before firing into the net once, again no chance for the keeper.

Robbie White did hit the crossbar late on for the Whites but in all, it was a real day to forget. Boss Tommy Kincaid will doubtless be demanding a response when the sides meet again in the Intermediate Cup next week.