The Star made it 24 league wins in a row on Saturday when they overcame a battling Queens Grads team. It's an amazing feat for the Ardoyne side as their winning streak stretches from September 2008 and what makes it even more impressive is that there is only 22 league games in a season. The teams have already met once this season with the Star running out 5-0 winners but the students where determined not to get another hammering and to be honest they battled for the 90 minutes and where a credit to themselves. Joe Gormley opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a terrific solo effort when he left two defenders in his wake with some beautiful footwork and passed the ball beyond the helpless keeper into the bottom corner to put the Star 1-0 up. Queens always looked dangerous on the break with the pace of their two front men but Burns, McAlea, Nellis and Keenan where more than a match for them. Reid and Braniff where winning the midfield battle while McConnall and Mooney where working hard to get up and support Gormley and Paul Brown at every opportunity. Towards the end of the half Braniff played a neat one-two with Reid and found himself bearing in on goal but his cross was nowhere near Brown in the middle and the chance went  begging .

H/T 1-0

Straight after the kick off Gormley scored another fine individual goal when he broke from his own half with the defender tugging on his shoulder all the way but the young striker was too strong and fast for him and fired the ball across the keeper into the empty net to double the Stars lead. To their credit Queens lifted their game and put the Star under some pressure and got a deserved goal when their right winger crossed for the striker to poke the ball past the helpless Thompson in goal. The students could've even have drawn themselves level only to be denied by the woodwork twice. Midway through the half Paul Brown broke clear only to be hauled down by a Queens defender and the referee had no option but to give the player his marching orders. There was no way back for Queens after this as the Star used their extra man excellently and created a host of goal scoring chances. The killer goal for the Star arrived ten minutes from time when Paul Brown found his strike partner with a pin point cross to the back post as Gormley headed the ball home for his hat trick and to seal his man of the match performance.

Next week the Star are away to Queens II's in a league fixture with a 1:00pm kick-off.  

Starman - Joe Gormley