4th Newtonabby Old Boys 1-4 Crumlin Star

The Star returned to some league action on Saturday for the first time in 12 weeks due to their cup commitments and made it 8 wins from 8 games after beating second from bottom 4th Newtonabby 4-1 in Ballyclare. After some lack-luster performances in recent weeks manager Hawkins asked his players to raise their game and he was delighted with the response he got. Mark Mooney opened the scoring in the 10th minute when he cut inside from the left and rifled a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to the Star. The Ardoyne men where playing some lovely football at this stage with Braniff & Reid pulling the strings in the middle of the park and it was Braniff who had a hand in the second goal when his long through ball put Nial Hawkins through on goal but the right back was chopped down just inside the area and the reliable Sean Brown stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-0. The Star received a double blow before the half even finished when Mooney & Paul Brown had to retire with a couple of knocks but hopefully their injuries aren't too serious. Chris Devenny made it 3-0 on the stroke of half time when he raced through on goal and lifted the ball over the advancing keeper to score his 3rd goal in 4 games.
H/T 0-3
With the points virtually in the bag the Star knocked the ball about with confidence, sometime keeping the ball for 20 or 30 passes and frustrating the home side. Hawkins was forced to make his final substitution of the day on the hour when McAlea was replaced by Keenan as the veteran made his first appearance for the firsts for a few weeks. Ciaran Reid made it 4-0 after some good link up play between Braniff & Devenny resulted in Dam Whelan being denied by the home keeper from point blank range but Reid pounced on the rebound and blasted the ball home. The Star where to finish the game with 10 men when Whelan had to go of injured, adding to the managers long list of casualties. The home side scored a consolation goal late on when the ball broke to their striker and he blasted the ball through McVeigh in goal to make the final score 4-1 to the Star.

Team: McVeigh, Hawkins, Burns, Nellis, McAlea, Mooney, S.Brown, Reid, Braniff, Devenny, P.Brown
Subs: Hamilton, Whelan, Keenan 

Wee Mooney scored the first goal on Saturday