Crumlin Star 2-0 Newington Rangers

The Star are through to the next round of the Border Cup after a hard fought victory over Newington Rangers. 
After losing to the Star last season 4-0 the away side started with a defensive formation which the Star struggled to break down but with a lone striker up top the away side never put the Stars defence under any real pressure during the first half. 
The first chance of the game fell to Paul McLarnon but his rasping effort crashed of the post. Next to go close was Paul Brown but he pulled his shot wide when he should've done better. 
The main talking point of the first half was a fierce tackle from Philip Savage which resulted in a Rangers player being stretchered off with Savage receiving a yellow card from the referee. 

H/T 0-0

It was as you were in the first half with the Star  the only team that pushed for the breakthrough as Newington where happy just to defend. 
PJ O'Neill was a handful all game for his defensive markers with his ariel strength and ability to bring others into the game. 
Murphy, O'Neill, Mooney & Berne all went close as the Stars dominance was beginning to pay dividends with the breakthrough looking inevitable.
With 15 minutes left on the clock it was down to the Stars all time top goal scorer to produce the goods when Paul Brown rose highest from a Mooney cross and crashed his header of the underside of the bar and in to put the Star into a deserved lead. 
Minutes later the away sides chances of getting back into the game took a massive blow when their striker was harshly given his marching orders for a nothing tackle on Sean Brown. 
As everyone knows 1-0 is always a precarious lead as teams will always get one chance and Newington nearly equalised late on with a wicked deflection of Berne which crashed of the crossbar.
Deep into injury time Paul Brown bagged himself a brace when he latched on to a defensive error and raced through to side foot the ball past the Rangers keeper.

Team: Thompson (7) McDowell (7) Burns (8) Berne (7) Savage (7) Mooney (7) McLarnon (8) Murphy (7) S.Brown (7) O'Neill (8) P.Brown (9)

Subs: O'Reilly (6) Hawkins (6) McCafferty (6)

Next week the Star are away to Rathfriland Rangers in a league fixture, Kick off 2:00pm

Paul Brown clinical as usual on sat!!