The Star are into the semi finals of the County Antrim Junior Shield after beating Old boys league side York Road Baptist at a sunny Grove playing fields on Saturday. They will be joined in the semis by Ford & Carniny Rangers with Ardoyne and Basement YM to fight it out for the last semi final place. With a large support for both sides it was the Ardoyne lads that started the brighter with some bright movement and sharp passing. Dam Whelan was having an excellent game on the right wing as he gave his marker a torrid time with his silky skills and sublime touch. Midway through the half Sean Brown curled a free kick of the inside of the post but the ball fell to his brother Paul who had the simplest of tasks of tapping the ball home from all of two yards to give the Star a deserved lead.

H/T 0-1

The home side came out fighting at the start of the second half but found the Star's defence impossible to get by as the usual foursome of O'Reilly, Nellis, Burns & McAlea where in no mood to give them an inch as they've only conceded 9 goals all season. For a 15 minute spell the Star had the home team under some real pressure with a flurry of free kicks and corners that had them on the back foot. Reid hit the post from just out side the box with a fine individual effort as the Star pushed for the killer second goal. Finally the illusive second goal came when a McAlea cross fell to Paul Brown in the area and the prolific striker doubled the Star's advantage with a close range shot. To be fair to the home side they never gave up and managed to put the Star under some pressure with some long throw in's to their 6 foot 5inch striker. The big striker went close on two occasions with two fine headers but was to be denied by a great save from Thompson in goal and a fine clearance from McAlea on the line.

Next week the Star are away to Ballymena to play Carniny Rangers in the quarter final of the Junior Cup.

Team: Thompson, O'Reilly, Nellis, Burns, McAlea, Whelan, Reid, S.Brown, Braniff, Gormley, P.Brown

Subs: Devenny, Hawkins, Keenan