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STAR MAKE IT 2 WINS OUT OF 2 IN 1B! |
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Written by Stephen Murray
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Tuesday, 30 August 2011 |
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Crumlin Star 5-1 Bryansburn Rangers
Last Tuesday the Star entertained Bryansburn Rangers at Solitude in a 1B league encounter. The home side dictated most of the early play and deservedly took the lead in the 10th minute when Paul Berne's fine header was saved by the Rangers keeper but PJ O'Neill was in the right place at the right time for an easy tap in from one yard out.
Minutes later Berne caused havoc in the Rangers penalty area again but this time found the back of the net with a bullet of a header to double the Stars advantage.
It was all one way traffic as Bryansburn couldn't handle the Stars pace & power with McLarnon, Murphy & Stephen Brown all having fine games in the middle of the park.
Just before the break Stephen Brown broke down the right flank and forced the Rangers number one into a fine double save but when the ball fell to him for the third time he managed find the back of the net with a little help from a Rangers defender.
H/T 3-0
Again there was no let up from the Ardoyne side in the second half as they bombarded the Rangers defence with one attack after another and with new captain Ciaran Burns marshalling the Stars defence with sheer quality Gibson in goal was a mere spectator for much of the game.
On the hour Fra Murphy made it 4-0 with a piece of brilliance when a fine through ball from Dominic Whelan found Murphy at the edge of the Rangers box and with a one flick over the defenders head he then volleyed an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.
Bryansburn got a conciliation goal in the 75th minute when Cambell lost possession in the middle of the park and with a quick counter attack an angry Gibson was picking the ball out of the net when a clean sheet looked on the cards.
Stephen Brown scored a fine individual goal late on when he cut in from the right and sent an unstoppable shot into the top corner to make it a convincing 5-1 win for the Star.
Team: Gibson (7) O'Reilly (6) Berne (7) Burns (8) Taylor (6) Mooney (7) McLarnon (8) F.Murphy (8) Brown (9) C.Murphy (8) O'Neill (7) Subs: Whelan (7) Campbell (6) McDowell (6)
Next week the Star are at home to Newington Rangers in the Border Cup, KO 2:00pm Burnsy in super form as usual!  |
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Written by Anto
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Sunday, 21 August 2011 |
The Season so far...
Pre-season started thick and fast for the Star with some tasty local derby's against Newington & Malachains. After going in at half time 2-0 down, a spirited second half performance seen the Star draw 2-2 with Newington and it was the same story with the Mals as the Ardoyne boys scored a late equaliser to finish the game 3-3. In other friendly games the Star ran out 3-2 winners away at Druminess Mills and a high scoring victory over St Pats ended 6-3. The only loss in pre-season came in a game against the Shankill where the Star were beaten 5-4 after going in 3-0 down at the break.
As the Star now prepare for life in a much tougher league this season the management team have strengthened the team significantly with Fra Murphy coming in from Newry Town, Paul McLarnon & PJ O'Neill joining from St Pats, Philip Savage, Jay Donnan & Ciaran Murphy all transferring from local rivals AWMC and the latest signing James McCafferty from Greencastle Rovers will make the Star a force to be reckoned with in the NAFL 1B division.
Crumlin Star 1-1 Ards (Ards win 4-2 on pens)
The Star's first game of the season came against Championship side Ards in the Steel & Sons cup at Solitude. Ards where big favourites in this game as they had a string of ex Irish league players on their team sheet but it was the hungrier Ardoyne side that dominated proceedings throughout the whole game but a host of terrible misses cost the Star dearly. Ards took the lead through ex Cliftonville player Nathan McConnell when he finished well in the box but late on Fra Murphy equalised to send the game into extra time. PJ O'Neill & Ciaran Murphy had the best chances to win the game before the dreaded penalties but again couldn't find the back of the net for the Star. Its been over ten years since the Star last won a penalty shoot-out and it was to be the same old story as Mal Thompson & Ciaran Murphy both missed to send the Star crashing out in the first round.
Ballywalter Rec 2-3 Crumlin Star
Last Tuesday the Star faced fellow promotion rivals Ballywalter in their first league fixture. Again some lacklustre finishing could've came back to haunt the star but a brace from Paul Brown sent the Star 2-0 in front at half time. Soon after the break the home side halved the deficit through a good finish from their striker but Paul Brown completed his hat-trick soon after the hour to restore the Stars two goal advantage. Deep into injury time a silly own goal from Nial Hawkins made the game look a lot closer than it actually was but the Star held on for the win and the valuable three points.
Donard Hospitals 0-6 Crumlin Star
On Saturday the Star faced fellow 1B side Donard Hospitals in the Border Cup over in East Belfast. This time the Star started to find their scoring touch as they fired six past a helpless Donard side. Veteran Sean Brown opened the scoring before Ciaran Murphy netted himself a brace with some deadly finishes. Paul Brown made it 4-0 before half time to put the game well beyond the home side. After the break young Murphy scored his first ever hat-trick in a Star jersey with a classy finish in the 75th minute then late on Mark Mooney finished of the scoring with a fine solo effort.
Ciaran Murphy looks the perfect replacement for Joe Gormley  |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 21 August 2011 )
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Written by Stephen Murray
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Thursday, 30 June 2011 |
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PRE SEASON! Pre Seaon training starts on Tuesday 5th of July at Mallusk 6.45pm. ALL NEW PLAYERS WELCOME ANYONE NEEDING A LIFT BE AT THE STAR AT 6.15PM |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 30 June 2011 )
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