Earlier this year Lisburn Distillery were dead and buried but they have discovered a new lease of life under manager Tommy Wright.

The Whites players have battled to give themselves a fighting chance of retaining their top flight status and no-one is happier to see smiles back on Ballyskeagh faces than Wright, who is today named Northern Ireland football’s Manager of the Month for March.

Rarely has the award been more deserving. Under Wright’s guidance, Lisburn Distillery bounced back from five defeats on the spin to win 3-1 at Coleraine and then the tide turned dramatically. The Whites won their basement battle with ’Stute 3-2, held Crusaders |2-2 and then beat Newry City 3-0.

Ahead of the crucial showdown with Institute at Ballyskeagh tomorrow, Wright’s men are breathing down their opponent’s necks — only a point behind and with a game in hand against Newry City.

They were written off as dead men walking and the criticism got to the players but the atmosphere around the club is very different now.

It is the former Northern Ireland goalkeeper’s fourth manager’s gong after being named top boss at Limavady United twice and once at Ballymena United.

“When I took over the first thing I did was to bring John Cunningham with me, someone who I had worked in the pro-licence with and really admired what he did at Limavady United,” said Wright.

“We have worked very well together while people like Reggie Hillen have been at the club for a long time and stood by it.

“Myself and John have worked well together and hopefully that is a partnership that can continue for some time.

“Confidence has grown out of performances and performances have been good which has enabled us to get results.

“We set ourselves a target to be within touching distance of the teams above us going into the split.

“That target was to be within three points of them with five games left. It’s still a difficult task

ahead of us but we have done that and are within a point of Institute.

“All we have done is create an opportunity to get us out this trouble we are in. Awards are nice but the real award for me will be staying in the Premiership.”