The star beat high flying Derriaghy 4-1 at a blustery Mallusk on Saturday. Goals from Mark Mooney, Anto Braniff, Sassil McConnal and Paul Brown lifted the Star to second in the table with two games in hand. In their two previous games Derriaghy had won 8-0 and 8-1 convincingly so the Star new they had to be at their best. And things didn't get of to the best of starts as the Star found themselves 1-0 down after ten minutes. From a free kick out on the right Derriaghy broke the Stars off side trap and their centre forward had the easiest task of tapping the ball home from two yards. The Star responded well and started to dominate the game with some tough tackling from midfield duo Braniff and Reid and after 15 minutes they had equalised, Sean Brown won possession at the edge of the Derriaghy area and swung in a pin point cross for Mark Mooney to volley home from the edge of the keepers six yard box, and not long later the Star found themselves in front when Braniff rose highest from a McKervey corner to give the Star a 2-1 lead going into half time.

H/T 2-1

The second half was a tight affair with Derriaghy putting the home side under pressure but not creating any clear cut goal scoring chances and it was the star who looked the most likely to add to their tally. Ciaran Reid and Barry McKervey both had chances to wrap the game up for the home side but where denied by the Derriaghy keeper. It wasn't until ten minute from the end that the Star finally killed the game of when Reid broke down the right flank to drill a low cross between the Derriaghy defence and keeper for Sass McConnall to tap home from close range. Cairns replaced Brown in midfield to add some fresh legs to the Stars midfield and it was in fact the substitute who was brought down in injury time for a nailed on penalty for Paul Brown to step up and score his 17th of the season. 

 

Starman: Mooney

 

Next week the Star are away to 2B outfit Santos in the Cochrane & Corry cup KO 1:30pm

 

Team: Thompson, McCoey, Nellis, O'Reilly, Hamilton, Reid, S.Brown, Braniff, Mooney, McKervey, P.Brown

Subs: McConnal, Cairns, Keenan