BALLYMENA United were defeated by Lisburn Distillery in glorious sunshine at Ballskeagh today, the Whites scoring two second half goals to clinch the tie, after the sides went in level at half-time.

Kicking off in fine spring weather, the Whites were soon on top, as after only nine minutes the Ballymena United defence allowed Andrew Waterworth to reach the end of a Franics Murphy cross, which decieved McConaghie and gave Waterworth the chance to fire past Paul Murphy, from close range.

After a lot of play in the middle of the park, with neither side looking particularly threatening on goal, a Ballymena United corner gave Kevin Kelbie the chance to slot the ball between Matthews' legs, and the linesman judged it to have crossed the line. The teams would go in for the half-time break with a goal each, and every chance to take the points.

It seemed the sun wasn't the only thing shining down on Ballyskeagh though, as lady luck played her part in Distillery's second goal. A long range shot from Darren Armour looked to be going straight into the waiting arms of Paul Murphy, until it took a last minute bobble and slipped underneath him into the net.

This seemed to be a hammer blow to the Sky Blues who offered little in terms of opportunity for the remainder of the game, and the tie was sealed when Waterworth scored his second goal on 78 minutes.

Tommy Wright has described the goals conceeded as "schoolboy stuff" and there will have to be a great improvement in performance next Saturday when Ballymena travel to Windsor Park to take on Linfield in the JJB Sports Irish Cup Quarter Final Replay.

Lisburn Distillery: Matthews, Alderdice, Buchanan, Muir, Thompson, McCann, Catney (sub P. McCann 90), Kilmartin, Murphy (sub Ferguson 88), Armour (sub Bell 90), Waterworth.

Ballymena United: P. Murphy, McConaghie (sub Aidan Watson 28), McClean, Haveron, Albert Watson, Kelly, Lowry (sub Picking 76), Scates, Brown (sub Fitzgerald 6), Kelbie, King.

Referee: Mark Courtney (Dungannon).

Picture courtesy of David Hunter (www.lisburn-distillery.net)