Irvinestown Wanderers 0 Lisbellaw United 2

Goalkeeper William McFredrick was on the score sheet as Lisbellaw continued their good recent form with a Thursday night win over Irvinestown under lights at the Bawnacre.
Paul McGrath added a second for Lisbellaw as they picked up the points although their manager Andy Reilly admitted that there was little separating the sides on the night.
 “I suppose we were fortunate in terms of the opening goal from Willy and despite not being at our best another clean sheet is encouraging. We’ve got that knack back where even if we aren’t playing well we’re still working extremely hard and look hard to beat again. They aren’t a bad wee side though and can count themselves unlucky not to take something from the game.”
Despite the defeat, Wanderers boss Rory Cassidy was reasonably happy with his side’s work rate and effort against the champions.
“It wasn’t pretty and I thought both teams struggled at times but I thought that we worked hard and competed well however things just didn’t fall for us. That was the champions we were playing though and I don’t think they are going to be too far away again this season,” he stated.
The ‘Law enjoyed the better of the early exchanges but both Christopher Nixon and Tiernan Magee were foiled by the home keeper while the influential McGrath did have the ball in the net but this was ruled out by the referee for offside much to the annoyance of the visitors.
At the other end Christopher McMulkin shot wide after being slipped in by Joey Miller while Gary Maguire failed to hit the target from a free kick.
It was the away side though who were to go on and grab the lead with 25 minutes on the clock through goalkeeper McFrederick whose long kick evaded everybody and bounced over his opposite number to the net.
McFrederick was then called on to stop Irvinestown levelling on the stroke of half time as he saved well down to his left from Ronan Ormsby.
Lisbellaw had a second goal ruled out for offside after Ryan O’Keefe slotted home early in the second half but they were not to be denied a second goal as McGrath struck. A disputed free kick awarded to Lisbellaw was floated into the path of McGrath by O’Keefe and he took it down on his chest before drilling his shot to the corner.
Irvinestown pressed hard in the final ten minutes and Sean Cassidy hit the bar while Raymond Carroll produced a superb goalline clearance to deny Miller as Lisbellaw secured the points.