Lisbellaw put eight past Broomhedge to advance through

Lisbellaw recorded their first win of the season in emphatic style as they put eight goals past Broomhedge Maghaberry in the first round of the Junior Cup.  

Paul McGrath helped himself to a second half hat-trick, with Scott Johnston and Sam Lindsay getting two apiece and Craig Johnston also finding the net. 

The game appeared to be finely poised at 2-2 after half an hour, but Lisbellaw finished strongly and Jimmy McGrath admitted they were a much-improved side in the second 45 minutes.  

“It was a ropey enough first half, but it was a very good second half,” he said.  “We started poorly enough and were a goal down after two minutes.  

"There was a mix-up in defence and they got a handy goal, but we equalised a couple of minutes later. We shuffled it about a bit at half time and Sam Lindsay started to get a lot of joy down the right. We got well on top in the second half.

"We played some good football and put it all together and bossed it. It was damage limitation for them in the second half. It was a case of getting the job done.  

"We haven’t started well in the league. We are not at it all yet this year, but hopefully, this will give us a boost now.” 

Lisbellaw gave goalkeeper Luke Johnston and Ollie Russell their first competitive starts, but it was a disappointing opening few minutes for the visitors as an error in defence allowed Ethan Dunbar to score for Broomhedge. 

Their lead was short-lived lived however as Lisbellaw hit back within two minutes when Sam Lindsay cut in from the right wing and drifted past two challenges before firing a low shot past the keeper.

It was not long before Lisbellaw took the lead for the first time, Sam Lindsay adding his second with a back post header from Craig Johnston’s cross. 

On a narrow and bumpy pitch, the home team were working hard, and they were rewarded with an equaliser when Lisbellaw keeper Luke Johnston delayed his clearance too long and clattered the striker.

The referee pointed to the penalty spot, with Matthew Mawhinney levelling the match again.  

Lisbellaw responded well and restored their lead on 38 minutes when Craig Johnston fired in from 25 yards. 

Paul McGrath got his first goal of the game eight minutes into the second half, converting Sam Lindsay’s cross as Lisbellaw started to pull clear.  

Substitute Richard Woods then set up McGrath’s second and Lisbellaw’s fifth. Fellow sub Scott Johnston then got himself on the score sheet after a pass from Sam Lindsay, and he added his second four minutes from time.  

McGrath completed his hat-trick in the final minute of the match, linking up with Woods again before firing past the keeper.