Lisburn City did the damage early and then calmly saw the job through as The New Saints were swept aside 3–0 at a lively Newforge. The Distillers wasted no time, Jamsie Irwin powering home a superb back-post header after just five minutes, setting the tone for a ruthless opening spell. Jack Grealish doubled the advantage soon after, reacting quicker than his marker to nod past a stranded Nathan Shepherd. By the 21st minute it was effectively over, Irwin again the architect as he cut inside and floated a delicious finish beyond the Saints keeper to make it three.

The second half brought more resistance from the visitors, but Andy McDonald stood firm with a string of assured saves to preserve the clean sheet. Lisburn were never really troubled, controlling the game with maturity and confidence, even after making wholesale changes at the break.

“We started like a team that meant business,” smiled one Lisburn wag. “After that, it was just about keeping the lid on the barrel.”

Lisburn City somehow managed to lose a match they were very much part of. A frantic opening saw Glenn Ferguson give the Distillers a deserved early lead, only for Orchard Park Thistle to hit back ruthlessly. Defensive chaos and some generous officiating allowed the hosts to rattle in four before the break, Captain Scotland running the show as Lisburn unravelled.

Carl Oakes rang the changes at half time and, to their credit, Lisburn showed real backbone. Bernardo Silva’s clever lob sparked belief, and the visitors pushed hard late on, Andy McDonald keeping the score respectable at the other end. With time running out, Glyn Pardoe surged forward and slipped in Phil McDonagh, who smashed home to make it 4–3 and set up a nervous finish.

It was too little, too late, but at least the Distillers left Orchard Park swinging.

“If we defended like that again, I’d fine myself.”

Lisburn City made life very hard for themselves in Spain and paid the price, as Orgullo Atletico held on for a breathless 3–2 win. The warning signs were there early, and by the 33rd minute Will Osula was already celebrating after punishing a defensive lapse. A second before the break, finished off by Óscar De Marcos, had Lisburn wobbling.

Things went from bad to worse straight after the restart when Osula pounced again to make it three, prompting some fairly colourful thoughts from the away dugout. To Lisburn’s credit, they finally woke up. Gareth Barry bundled one in, then Aaron Cochrane produced a moment of magic with a floated cross-shot that somehow crept in off the woodwork.

Lisburn pushed and huffed, Phil McDonagh went close late on, but Orgullo just about kept their shields up. A game of fine margins, and a reminder that switching off gets punished quickly.

“If we defend like that again, I’ll need a very strong cup of tea,” sighed Carl Oakes afterwards.

Lisburn City edged past Gotham City Knights in a match decided by sharp instincts at one end and stubborn defending at the other. Eric Brook’s poacher’s finish on 20 minutes, reacting quickest after a deflected Jack Grealish cross, proved the difference on a tense afternoon.

The Distillers were lively early on, Johnny Crossan and Brook both testing Will Dennis, but Gotham responded after the break with real intent. Alexei Eremenko and Mark Reilly began to find space, while Stevie Maskrey twice threatened to spoil the party, once having the ball in the net only to be flagged offside.

When Gotham did get through, Andy McDonald stood firm. The Lisburn keeper pulled off a string of vital saves and commanding punches to preserve the lead, earning a deserved Man of the Match. Lisburn might have sealed it late on, but Hugh Burns produced heroic defending to keep the score respectable.

“That’s the sort of win you earn, not admire,” smiled McDonald. “Ugly sometimes, but very satisfying.”

Lisburn City were given a proper footballing education as AFC Ajax Legends ran out 4–1 winners in a match that was effectively decided before the interval. The Distillers started brightly and even rattled the crossbar through Jack Grealish, but once Patrick Kluivert opened the scoring after 16 minutes the floodgates creaked ominously.

Kluivert doubled the lead with a neat header before Lisburn briefly sparked into life, Eric Brook catching Edwin van der Sar napping with a speculative effort from distance. Any hope of a comeback was swiftly extinguished as Luis Suárez struck twice in three frantic minutes, punishing sloppy defending and leaving Lisburn shell-shocked at 4–1 down by the break.

The second half was far more respectable from Lisburn, who created chances and worked van der Sar without reward, but the damage had long been done.

“We played the occasion, not the game,” sighed Carl Oakes. “Against players like that, you get punished for every mistake.”