Lisbellaw United 4 Strathroy Harps 2

Lisbellaw made it three wins from their last four league games with a 4-2 victory over Strathroy Harps. Sam Lindsay and Ryan Lindsay both scored twice for the home team as they continue their rise up the Mercer League table.

“It was a great win for us,” admitted Manager Kyle McCleery.

“Last week we lost 1-0 to Mountfield, and that was a disappointing performance and result, so to bounce back straight away with a win and a really good performance was very pleasing.

“I thought we played well and created the better chances and played the better football, and over the course of the 90 minutes we deserved the three points.

“We had a couple of big performances from Lewis Vance at centre back, who was exceptional, and Sam Lindsay in midfield was superb and dictated the game, and he was the real catalyst for us coming away with the win.”

Lisbellaw were forced into three changes due to unavailability, but there was little to choose between the sides in the opening 20 minutes, with goal-scoring chances at a premium.

The first opening fell to Strathroy when Tommy Murphy broke clear of the defence and rounded the keeper, but from an angle his shot came off the inside of the post and bounced to safety.

Spectacular

The opening goal of the match arrived in spectacular style after half an hour. Robbie Little’s cross from the right wing was headed out of the penalty area, but it fell to Sam Lindsay, and from 20 yards out he struck an unstoppable volley into the top corner of the net.

The goal signalled a spell of Lisbellaw dominance with Paul Elliott coming close when he controlled Little’s pass but failed to get his shot away before the keeper closed him down.

Paul McGrath then got to the by-line and cut the ball back for Sean Keenan, but he could not make the necessary contact to divert the ball past the keeper.

With one minute remaining of the half, Lisbellaw extended their lead when Paul Elliott crossed for McGrath, and his lay-off was rifled into the roof of the net by Sam Lindsay.

Harps pulled a goal back when Tommy Murphy got a near post flick on a free kick, but Lisbellaw restored their two-goal advantage when Ryan Lindsay converted a penalty following a foul by Boyle on Robbie Little.

With five minutes remaining, Strathroy reduced the deficit with a penalty of their own from Sloan, but Lisbellaw confirmed the victory three minutes into added time when Ryan Lindsay burst past two defenders and fired into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.