Lisbellaw bounce back with ‘a really good performance’

Lisbellaw put last week’s heavy defeat to Enniskillen Rangers behind them with a convincing victory over Dergview Reserves, as Kyle McCleery’s side overturned a 1-0 half-time deficit thanks to second-half strikes from Craig Johnston, Scott Johnston and a first senior goal for Jack Foster.

“It was important to bounce back from the week before, and it leaves us sitting not too bad with two wins and two defeats from our first four,” said Lisbellaw manager McCleery.

“The game opened up when it went to one all and it really suited us. I felt in the last half an hour we completely dominated, and we could have maybe come out even more comfortable winners than what we did. I’m just glad to get the three points, and delighted we put in a really good performance following an awful display the week before.”

Lisbellaw were out of the blocks quickly as they looked to redeem themselves from the previous week, and they could have been ahead inside the first five minutes but Jack Foster’s header from Lewis Vance’s cross was straight at the goalkeeper.

It was Dergview who broke the deadlock, moving ahead in the 33rd minute despite Lisbellaw’s early superiority. Philip Wallace started the move, latching onto a goal kick and hooking the ball down the line for Stephen Mills. The striker flicked it on for McGuigan, who came in from the left wing and drilled a shot that Sam McDonald got a hand to but could not keep out of the net.

Boosted by the goal Dergview pressed forward in search of a second but Ethan Nethery wasted their best chance when he shot straight at McDonald.

Just before half time Lisbellaw almost scrambled an equaliser when Scott Johnston dispossessed Dale Maxwell inside the penalty area and tested the keeper. Aaron Lindsay pounced on the rebound but again the keeper made the block, with Wallace blocking Craig Johnston’s follow-up effort.

Lisbellaw finally drew level ten minutes into the second half when Scott Johnston won a free kick on the left wing, and he picked himself up to head in Sam Lindsay cross at the far post.

Dergview almost hit back within seconds, when from the kick off Wallace created a chance for McGuigan, but he pulled his shot wide of the upright.

Midway through the half, Lisbellaw hit the front for the first time when Sam Lindsay found Sam Johnston on the right wing.

His pass to Craig Johnston put him through on goal and he rounded the keeper, and managed to keep his balance to stab the ball over the line ahead of the recovering defenders.

Ryan Lindsay and Jack Foster both had chances to add to the lead before Foster did get a third goal and his debut goal for the first team.

From Dergview’s corner the home team broke forward with Craig Johnston sliding the ball into the path of Foster who side-footed into the corner of the net.

Foster almost added his second of the match in the closing minutes when he fired Scott Moutray’s cross goalwards, but he was denied by the keeper.