2pm 11 November 2017
Northern Ireland Football League, Premier Intermediate League
Tobermore United 3 Lisburn Distillery 0 (att 75)
The most recent restructuring of Northern Irish football has seen the third tier renamed as the Premier Intermediate League, making it the country-wide top level of 'intermediate' football, below the two divisions of 'senior' teams.
That Lisburn Distillery now find themselves at this level surprised me when I checked the fixtures for this trip. Distillery FC, as they were then called, was the first ground I visited in Northern Ireland, when I saw them surprise Linfield with a 1-0 win in 1992.
Surprisingly I've not seen them since, but 25 years on and this time they were on the wrong end of an unexpected result at Tobermore. The visitors started well enough, dominating the opening exchanges, but they had no answer once Tobermore edged in front.
Two goals in quick succession put the home team 2-0 ahead by half time, and a third goal early in the second half killed off any chance of a Distillery recovery, to the frustration of their fans who must have made up at least half the crowd.
Tobermore United play at Fortwilliam Park, on the outskirts of the County Londonderry village. The ground is dominated by a stand that runs the length of one side and has a single row of seats as well as terracing.
Dugouts are on the opposite side, where there's a few steps of uncovered terracing, but that side was closed for this game, making it effectively a one-sided ground, with some additional space behind the goal near the entrance.
Presumably the far side is opened for occasional visits of clubs with large travelling support, as it has its own set of turnstyles and would allow for easy segregation. There was a time when Distillery would have been considered a 'big' club. Despite this defeat they remain top of the league though, so perhaps they're starting the long climb back.
Northern Ireland Football League, Premier Intermediate League
Tobermore United 3 Lisburn Distillery 0 (att 75)
The most recent restructuring of Northern Irish football has seen the third tier renamed as the Premier Intermediate League, making it the country-wide top level of 'intermediate' football, below the two divisions of 'senior' teams.
That Lisburn Distillery now find themselves at this level surprised me when I checked the fixtures for this trip. Distillery FC, as they were then called, was the first ground I visited in Northern Ireland, when I saw them surprise Linfield with a 1-0 win in 1992.
Surprisingly I've not seen them since, but 25 years on and this time they were on the wrong end of an unexpected result at Tobermore. The visitors started well enough, dominating the opening exchanges, but they had no answer once Tobermore edged in front.
Two goals in quick succession put the home team 2-0 ahead by half time, and a third goal early in the second half killed off any chance of a Distillery recovery, to the frustration of their fans who must have made up at least half the crowd.
Tobermore United play at Fortwilliam Park, on the outskirts of the County Londonderry village. The ground is dominated by a stand that runs the length of one side and has a single row of seats as well as terracing.
Dugouts are on the opposite side, where there's a few steps of uncovered terracing, but that side was closed for this game, making it effectively a one-sided ground, with some additional space behind the goal near the entrance.
Presumably the far side is opened for occasional visits of clubs with large travelling support, as it has its own set of turnstyles and would allow for easy segregation. There was a time when Distillery would have been considered a 'big' club. Despite this defeat they remain top of the league though, so perhaps they're starting the long climb back.
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