Old boy Liggett helps to condemn Distillery

Lisburn Distillery old boy Gary Liggett last night hammered the final nail into his former team’s Premier League relegation coffin at eerie New Grosvenor.
Presseye Northern Ireland - 16th  April 2013 Mandatory Credit - Photo-William Cherry/Presseye

Distillery's Aaron Smyth walk off the pitch at full time knowing they are relegated after being defeated by Ballymena and Donegal Celtic beat Dungannon.Presseye Northern Ireland - 16th  April 2013 Mandatory Credit - Photo-William Cherry/Presseye

Distillery's Aaron Smyth walk off the pitch at full time knowing they are relegated after being defeated by Ballymena and Donegal Celtic beat Dungannon.
Presseye Northern Ireland - 16th April 2013 Mandatory Credit - Photo-William Cherry/Presseye Distillery's Aaron Smyth walk off the pitch at full time knowing they are relegated after being defeated by Ballymena and Donegal Celtic beat Dungannon.

Tim McCann’s side crashed to their 25th defeat of the campaign – guaranteeing their return to Championship 1 next season.

Midfielder Alan Davidson grabbed the killer second goal seven minutes from time, leaving the Whites totally demoralised.

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Manager McCann and his ailing team were a sorry sight as they trooped off at the finish in total silence.

The defeat climaxed a horrible season for the Whites. They have won only one of their last 25 league games – against Glenavon – and have shipped a staggering 88 goals.

Ironically, Liggett is still Distillery’s leading goal scorer. He bagged 12 before leaving for United in January – and his early strike was his fifth for the Sky Blues.

Following a 7-0 hammering at Glenavon at the weekend, Distillery had relegation written all over their performance – and it was no surprise when Liggett struck after only nine minutes.

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Shane Dolan’s shot was blocked by a mass of bodies and, when the ball fell to the former Glenavon striker, he rammed it low and hard into the bottom corner.

United should have increased their lead on 26 minutes following a piercing solo dash from centre back Aaron Stewart, who sent Ally Teggart hurtling into the box, but Willie Garrett produced a vital block.

With relegation looming, Distillery came out with renewed vigour in the second half. They almost levelled on 49 minutes when Scott Davidson’s corner kick was met by Aaron Boyd, but his header was hoofed off the line by Stewart.

Hughes buckled under a challenge from David Cushley right on the edge of the box, but Garrett’s effort failed to trouble Nelson.

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Incredibly, Hughes another missed a glorious opportunity on 57 minutes, blasting wildly over the crossbar following a clever pass from Withers.

Defender Aaron Traynor rescued the Whites with a fantastic goal line clearance – he somehow headed a Cushley blockbuster from under the crossbar.

Teggart because he was guilty of possibly the miss of the season 15 minutes from time.

Liggett waltzed into the box and squared the ball to the unmarked midfielder, but astonishingly he rapped the ball over the crossbar of an open goal from six yards.

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But Davidson put Distillery out of their misery seven minutes from them when he picked up a Neil Lowry cross, neatly side-stepped a challenge, before shooting low into the bottom corner.

Lisburn Distillery: Brennan, Smyth, Simpson, D McCullough (Melly 75), Davidson, Garrett, Traynor, Hughes, Forsythe, Boyd, Withers (Halliday 79). Subs: Harkness, Ferguson, M McCullough.

Ballymena United: Nelson, Taylor, Munster (Maher 46), Stewart, Ruddy (Gage 80), Cushley (Lowry 70), Taggart, Davidson, Teggart, Liggett, Dolan. Subs: Duffin, McCabe.

Referee: T Marshall.

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