It was the Bannsiders who might have taken the early lead, though, when Davy Patton was twice thwarted by Whites 'keeper Philip Matthews after 12 minutes.

And Matthews was later to deny Tommy McCallion with a finger-tip save around an upright followed by a superb stop to keep out a Darren Cassidy effort six minutes from the break.

However it was the Whites who went in at the break in front when, in stoppage time, Darren Armour knocked home a cross which the visiting defence failed to clear.

Distillery then doubled their advantage on 73 minutes courtesy of a Ryan McCann curling free-kick from fully 25 yards which ended up in the corner of Davy O'Hare's goal.