Five star ’Stute cruise to Suffolk Road victory

With their closest rivals all having at least one game in hand, ’Stute knew that coming home from West Belfast without all three points wasn’t an option.

Perhaps this pressure led to an edgy first half, though the visitors did take the lead 20 minutes in after Aaron Walsh’s re-taken free kick from the left was superbly dispatched by an arching header from defender John Curran.

In a more confident and free-flowing second half performance from the visitors, Curran could have added to his opener with a shot from the edge of the box which the keeper scooped onto the crossbar.

Moments later, Robbie Hume, making a rare start in place of the unavailable O’Flynn, was put through and chipped the advancing keeper only to see the ball drop wide of the post.

Hume wasn’t going to be denied for long however and on 60 minutes, Walsh played a superb through ball which allowed him to take a touch and finish from close range.

Five minutes later, Darren McCauley sprung the offside trap to make it three and ensure the home side had no way back.

On 68 minutes it was 4-0 as winger Stephen Curry raced clear and squared the ball for Hume who made no mistake turning the ball home into a empty net.

Curry was nearly on the scoresheet himself soon after, when he got a foot to a blocked shot from the impressive Ryan Varma, but saw his shot come back off the bar.

Left back Darren McKeever completed the rout on 73 minutes when he broke clear down the left and calming slotted home.

Hume then set up Varma who fired straight at the keeper before the striker was given two chances to complete his hat-trick.

The best of those chances came on 85 minutes the ball was whipped across the box but on the stretch from close range he could only direct his shot over the bar.