Johnny Crossan needed just eight minutes off the bench to put Lisburn City ahead for a second time in their 3–2 win over Golden Dragons. Nico OReilly had given City the lead in the 14th minute, smashing a loose ball into the roof of the net, before Del McInnes finished low after Shaun Batty’s cross ricocheted his way. With the sides level at the break, Carl Oakes made three changes. Two of his substitutes nearly combined for a goal when Glyn Pardoe picked out Crossan. David Raya saved the low shot, but a minute later Crossan headed past him after the Dragons gave away possession. Man of the Match Shaun Goater swept home Jamsie Irwin’s deflected cross for City’s third. They needed it, too. Batty chipped the advancing Andy McDonald with eight minutes left to make for a tense finish.

“Johnny gave Raya a minute to enjoy that save, which I thought was generous of him.” — Carl Oakes

Match Soundtrack: “Johnny B. Goode” — Chuck Berry
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Lisburn’s Johnny took the cue at half-time and had his big number out of the way by the 53rd minute.

BIG is Beautiful had all four goals on the board by the 17th minute of their 4–0 win over Lisburn City. Man of the Match Ultraman Zearth sent Andy McDonald the wrong way in the opening minute, then helped himself to a second when Tommy McCracken’s back-pass fell short. McDonald had already tipped a Mechagodzilla drive onto the post, but Glenn Manning split City’s defence for Tom Keenan, who tucked the third in off the woodwork. Mechagodzilla got his goal soon afterwards, a deflection carrying his follow-up past McDonald. With half an hour gone, the hosts settled into protecting their lead. Aaron Cochrane and Shaun Goater came on at the break, but the closest City came to troubling Tommy Olsson was a late Johnny Crossan pass towards Nicolăs Otamendi. Ultraman Grigio cut it out and Lisburn finished without a shot.

“I’d have settled for making their keeper work for his clean sheet. We didn’t even give him a decision to make.” — Carl Oakes

Match Soundtrack: “Godzilla” — Blue Öyster Cult
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Mechagodzilla rattled the woodwork on his first visit and finished the demolition on his second.

Damien Kelly was the width of a post from putting Lisburn City 3–1 up in the 83rd minute. Seven minutes later, Camelot had won 3–2. Derek Henry had chipped in for Travis Hunter to open the scoring after two minutes, but Nicolăs Otamendi brought City level on 25, lifting Shaun Goater’s knockdown over Grace. Otamendi then deflected Hunter’s chip to safety just after the break before Phil McDonagh dinked City ahead in the 51st minute. Camelot pushed up late and Bernardo Silva sent Kelly clear, only for his finish to rebound off the upright into Grace’s hands. Ruby headed Tom Brady’s cross in at the back post in the 86th minute, and Man of the Match Henry met Ronnie Lott’s pass with the winner in the 90th. Tommy Booth’s booking also brings a one-match suspension.

“I could live with Damien hitting the post. It was the seven minutes afterwards I had trouble with.” — Carl Oakes

Match Soundtrack: “If I Could Turn Back Time” — Cher
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Lisburn would happily wind this one back to the moment Silva put Kelly through.

Johnny Crossan supplied both goals as Lisburn City secured a commanding 2–0 victory at A.C. Sapone, whose attack failed to muster a single shot. City’s adventurous 4-2-4 produced sustained pressure, although timely defensive blocks and Tim Metcalfe’s goalkeeping kept the contest alive. Crossan broke through after 29 minutes, charging into the penalty area before finishing superbly to the goalkeeper’s right. Tommy Booth twice tested Metcalfe, while Sapone’s defenders repeatedly intervened to prevent further damage. The overdue second arrived six minutes from time when Phil McDonagh threaded the ball through for Crossan to seal the points and his Man of the Match award. City finished with seven efforts on target to Sapone’s none, leaving Andy McDonald without a save to make. John Heron also earned a coaching point from an afternoon of defensive control.

“Johnny settled it twice, which was considerate of him, because at 1–0 I was still finding things to worry about despite them not having a shot.” — Carl Oakes

Match Soundtrack: “Johnny B. Goode” — Chuck Berry
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Two goals and Man of the Match: this Johnny certainly lived up to the title.

Lisburn City overturned a half-time deficit to beat Orgullo Atletico 2–1, with Shaun Goater delivering the winner and Andy McDonald earning Man of the Match. Both goalkeepers were tested before Adolfo Aldana struck just before the interval, tapping home after McDonald spilled Óscar Valdez’s long-range effort. Carl Oakes introduced Nicolăs Otamendi and Aaron Cochrane at the break, and Cochrane needed only three minutes to make his mark, pouncing on Diego Llorente’s dreadful back-pass to equalise. City’s turnaround was complete after 70 minutes when Óscar De Marcos’s headed clearance fell to Goater, whose scuffed finish beat S_Campbell. McDonald then recovered sharply to deny Tocino Picante late on, protecting a hard-earned away victory in a contest where both sides managed six shots. Otamendi and Damien Kelly also collected coaching points to round off a productive afternoon.

“Some finishes are worth framing; Shaun’s is worth exactly the same on the scoreboard, and Andy made sure it stayed that way.”
— Carl Oakes

Match Soundtrack: “Get Back” — The Beatles
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City got back into the match, then headed home with the win.

Lisburn City led three times but had to settle for a 3–3 draw with Preston North End despite putting seven shots on target to the visitors’ four. Nico OReilly pounced on a rebound inside the opening minute, only for Jasper Minecraft to equalise five minutes later. Phil McDonagh restored City’s advantage with a fine finish from Jamsie Irwin’s first-time pass, but Minecraft headed his second to level again. Aaron Cochrane’s spectacular drive into the top corner gave Lisburn a 3–2 interval lead. The decisive second-half passage saw Marcus Riemann block McDonagh’s effort before Hank Nandy thundered Preston level in the 50th minute. Substitutes Jeremy Doku and Shaun Goater threatened to combine for a winner, but Mark Egan intervened. Minecraft took Man of the Match, while John Heron earned a coaching point and Tony Coton a training point.

“We gave them three opportunities to be behind and they declined every one; next time we’ll try being less accommodating.”
— Carl Oakes

Match Soundtrack: “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” — Kim Wilde
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Three separate leads kept City hoping for a victory that Preston simply wouldn’t allow.