Lisburn City were given a harsh lesson in clinical finishing as Gotham City Knights swept to a deserved 3–0 victory under the watchful eye of a loose-refereed Douglas McDonald. The warning signs were there early, with both sides trading near-identical chances, but it was Gotham who took control before the break. Tam Brown punished a dreadful Gary Wray clearance on 39 minutes, before Stevie Maskrey’s powerful header made it two just before half-time.

Lisburn huffed and puffed after the interval. Bernardo Silva and Jamsie Irwin both went close, only to be repeatedly denied by an inspired Will Dennis, who rightly walked away with Man of the Match. Any faint hope of a comeback was extinguished late on when Maskrey bravely nicked in Gotham’s third, leaving Coach Carl Oakes seething on the touchline.

“We defended like it was optional and found out the hard way.”

Lisburn City were given a harsh lesson in clinical finishing as Gotham City Knights swept to a deserved 3–0 victory under the watchful eye of a loose-refereed Douglas McDonald. The warning signs were there early, with both sides trading near-identical chances, but it was Gotham who took control before the break. Tam Brown punished a dreadful Gary Wray clearance on 39 minutes, before Stevie Maskrey’s powerful header made it two just before half-time.

Lisburn huffed and puffed after the interval. Bernardo Silva and Jamsie Irwin both went close, only to be repeatedly denied by an inspired Will Dennis, who rightly walked away with Man of the Match. Any faint hope of a comeback was extinguished late on when Maskrey bravely nicked in Gotham’s third, leaving Coach Carl Oakes seething on the touchline.

“We defended like it was optional and found out the hard way.”

Lisburn City’s trip to Pehuajo never really got going, and by the time Alf Myers had finished his day’s mischief, the Distillers were already halfway to the airport. The hosts struck first on 40 minutes, a slick move finished crisply by Myers after Mac Allister split the lines. Lisburn huffed, puffed and occasionally chipped the keeper, but most efforts ended either over the bar or in Matias Lopez’s grateful gloves.

The second half saw a brief Lisburn flutter, with Jamsie Irwin almost nicking an equaliser, only for Mateo Carabajal to arrive like a bouncer removing a drunk uncle from a wedding. Myers then doubled the lead on 57 with a low drive that left Carson stranded. From there, Pehuajo coasted, happy to let Lisburn pass sideways till the bus came.

A tough afternoon where effort wasn’t lacking, but sharpness certainly was.

“We didn’t so much lose the midfield battle as politely hand it over and wish them well with it.”

Lisburn City ground out a gritty point at Ye Olde Spurs after a match where goalkeepers took centre stage and the forwards may as well have stayed at home polishing their boots. The hosts threw plenty forward early on, but Scott Carson was in one of his “not today lads” moods, tipping Robbie Keane’s thunderbolt onto the bar and smothering anything loose. At the other end, Bernardo Silva’s introduction lit a fire under the Distillers, yet every promising moment was snuffed out by the acrobatic Heurleho Gomes, who seemed determined to audition for Cirque du Soleil.

Glyn Pardoe and Dave Watson made vital blocks, while John Kennedy calmly tidied up just about everything Spurs tried. By full-time it felt like the match could’ve gone on until Christmas without a goal.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Scott Carson, wiping his gloves: “If anyone finds the goals, tell them we were looking for them for 90 minutes.”

Lisburn City clipped through the Blades with the calm assurance of a side who’d already decided the script. Glyn Pardoe opened the scoring after carving through Sheffield’s back line like a man who fancied a highlight reel. His finish left John Russell waving at ghosts and the home support bouncing.

Sheffield tried everything bar phoning a friend. Their reshuffle at half-time offered a flicker of life, but Andy McDonald stayed sharp and the Distillers kept nudging forward. Eric Brook made it two with a tidy header, moments after being told off for spitting, proving you really can be both naughty and effective in the same afternoon.

The Blades’ misery deepened when Andre Brookes was stretchered off with no subs left, leaving them to cling on. Lisburn simply managed the game out with a grin.

 David Blair quipped afterwards: “Expected result… though our lad in goal got more fresh air than touches.”

There was a lively crowd at The Distillery, and they didn’t have to wait long for something to cheer. Jamsie Irwin got things bubbling with a neat half-volley, and once that went in you could almost hear the Expos sigh. Phil McDonagh then helped himself to two in quick succession, the second so calm you’d have thought he was rolling it into his own back garden. By the time Phil tucked away his hat-trick before the break, a few travelling supporters were already checking the bus times.

The second half brought more smiles as Bernardo Silva nipped in for a tidy finish and Aaron Cochrane thumped home after a mix-up at the back. With Otamendi organising things like a man rearranging his shed, Pehuajo barely laid a glove on Lisburn.

McDonagh joked: “If Carl brings out the good biscuits next week, we’ll try to score seven.”

There was a lively crowd at The Distillery, and they didn’t have to wait long for something to cheer. Jamsie Irwin got things bubbling with a neat half-volley, and once that went in you could almost hear the Expos sigh. Phil McDonagh then helped himself to two in quick succession, the second so calm you’d have thought he was rolling it into his own back garden. By the time Phil tucked away his hat-trick before the break, a few travelling supporters were already checking the bus times.

The second half brought more smiles as Bernardo Silva nipped in for a tidy finish and Aaron Cochrane thumped home after a mix-up at the back. With Otamendi organising things like a man rearranging his shed, Pehuajo barely laid a glove on Lisburn.

McDonagh joked: “If Carl brings out the good biscuits next week, we’ll try to score seven.”

Lisburn City ground out a hard-fought 0–0 draw with Ye Olde Spurs FC in a match that offered plenty of industry but very little incision. Both sides struggled to break each other down, though City enjoyed the better spells of pressure, especially in the first half.

Eric Brook and Jack Grealish worked tirelessly on the flanks, while Gary Wray and John Kennedy were rock solid at the back. The best Lisburn chance came late on when Phil McDonagh pounced on a loose back-pass, only for Gomes to deny him with a sharp save. At the other end, Andy McDonald earned Man of the Match with two excellent stops and an assured display.

City will feel they edged it, but a point apiece was fair in the end. After the match, manager Carl Oakes said, “We were organised and committed, but we needed one moment of magic to win it.”

Lisburn City suffered a tough 3–1 defeat at FC Blades after a late collapse turned a promising performance on its head. City were excellent in the first half, moving the ball with confidence and pressing smartly. Their pressure paid off just before the break when Aaron Cochrane danced down the right and slipped a clever ball to Eric Brook, who finished calmly for a deserved lead.

City created more chances after the interval, with McDonagh, Crossan and Cochrane all threatening to double the advantage, but that crucial second goal wouldn’t come. The Blades punished the missed opportunities in ruthless fashion, scoring three times in the final ten minutes through Arblaster and a brace from Kieffer Moore.

After the match, manager Carl Oakes said, “We were the better side for long spells, but we’ve got to finish games properly.”