Downpatrick started well pressing the Distillery defence and making some good attacks in the opening minutes but couldn’t find an opportunity to score. With the weather conditions getting worse by the minute, both teams were struggling to get a foot on the ball.
Downpatrick were on the attack but it broke down and the Lisburn Distillery centre half launched a high ball over the Downpatrick defence who were caught sleeping and allowed the Distillery striker to slip the ball past the on rushing Downpatrick keeper Shane Campbell to put his side in front.
Form the restart Downpatrick immediately struck back with some great play from Declan Looney who played in Kian Tierney who beat the last man and squared the ball for the prolific Eoin Rooney to tap home. For the remainder of the half Downpatrick pressed for another but the Lisburn Distillery defence and keeper were in tremendous form ensuring both teams finished the first half level.
Half Time: Downpatrick FC 1 v Lisburn Distillery 1
Words of encouragement at half time from the Downpatrick management gave the Downpatrick players confidence to go out in the second half and press for the second goal and they were quickly on the front foot. Ruairi Quinn was in great form down the left wing and was putting in cross after cross but the Distillery defence were able to clear any danger he was causing.
In a rare attack Lisburn Distillery played a ball wide and their striker drove at the Downpatrick defence and took advantage of a slip from centre half Tom Fitzsimons to get a shot away and leave Campbell with no chance. This just ignited Downpatrick and they took command in the middle off the park, with midfielder Brandon Boyd and centre back Tom Smyth swapping positions.
Downpatrick now had more of a threat and power going forward, Smyth nearly got his goal when he drove from midfield played a one two with Tierney and hit a sweet shot but the Distillery keeper was well placed to deal with the shot. From the next attack Downpatrick won a corner, Quinn sent the corner in and Smyth knocked it down to Tierney to finish well from 6 yards.
With the conditions continuing to get worse as the game wore on Downpatrick pressed for the winner but to no avail as the Distillery keeper was in fine form. The match ended 2-2 but on chances maybe Downpatrick should’ve had the 3 points but in those conditions a draw was a good result coming back from behind twice.
