Five star United

CHURCHILL United had an impressive and comfortable 5-1 victory over Ardstraw, at Wilton Park, on Saturday.

Within two minutes of the start of the game Churchill were awarded a penalty, Peter Doherty was slipped in behind the full back by Gary Simpson and as he made his way inside the box he was pulled back by the defender. Doherty stepped up to take the spot kick himself and dispatched it without any problem.

In what was a hectic opening ten minutes Ardstraw got themselves back on level terms with a well worked goal but the home side protested that the centre forward was some way off side.

After an even enough start Churchill then begun to take control of the middle of the park and Simpson's vision and early passes picked out Robbie Godfrey and Doherty on a couple of occasions but neither could make the keeper work.

Then Simpson again played in Godfrey who got past the defender before having his shot parried by the keeper but Godfrey reacted quickest and kept the ball in play before forcing the ball home.

The Waterside men changed the game inside the last five miuntes of the first half; firstly the lively Doherty picked the ball up on the left and cut inside two defenders before firing home past the keeper. Then in stoppage time Simpson dinked the ball over the top for the run of Colin McGarrigle who chipped the keeper to send the home side in at half time 4-1 up.

The second half followed a similar pattern with Churchill having the lion's share of the ball and making several good chances to increase thier lead in what excellent conditions for a game.

McGarrigle had an identical chance to the one he took in the first half but this time he put the ball just wide of the post.

The next clear cut chance fell to Paul McColgan after Godfrey took on his man on the right and put in a pinpoint cross onto the head of McColgan who headed over from six yards.

With ten minutes to go substitute Stephen McColgan wrapped up the scoring tapping home from a Godfrey square ball which took the defender and keeper out of the game.

Meanwhile Churchill would like to invite everyone to a Quiz Night at Brigade Cricket Club on Saturday, March 27, at 8pm. Admission to the Quiz is 5 per player and teams are limited to 4 players.

There will be spot prizes, winners prize and light supper provided so please support the club to help raise much needed funds.