Reserves hit Maghera for ten

Deciding to play with the wind in the first half, Maghera United had a shot in the first minute but Kerr got down well at near post to gather.

It took a while for the Blues to settle but they started playing some good football in midfield which led to the first goal after 10 minutes. Monaghan put Beattie through who saw his first shot saved by the keeper but was able to follow up the rebound.

Then two minutes later the Blues made it 2-0 when McElhone whipped in a free kick in and Monaghan got on the end of it to head in off the underside of the bar.

Monaghan was not to be denied again as he made it 3-0 on 33 minutes with a goal of the season contender. Kerr’s precise free kick found Monaghan on the right wing who nodded the ball forward to take it past the defender and finish to the top corner past the onrushing keeper.

On 36 minutes McElhone got in on the act and made it 4-0. Despite the tight angle on the right hand side he found the top corner direct from the free kick.

Maghera United then pulled a goal back on 40 minutes when a long ball caught the Blues defence out and allowed their winger to run through and slot past the advancing Kerr.

The Blues began the second half as they finished the first and now playing with the wind continued to attack the Maghera goal.

Magherafelt were not going to have to wait long before they added another goal when substitute Brady scored another goal of the season contender on 51 minutes to make it 5-1. Brady picked the ball up in midfield and ran at the Maghera defence and after trying to play Beattie through the ball fell favourably for him to control, flick up and volley home.

The Blues were now showing a ruthless streak and scored three goals in five minutes. On 59 minutes a Brady corner fell favourably for Michael Devlin at the back post to tap home to make it 6-1. Three minutes later it was 7-1 when Monaghan was set clear down the left wing and cut in and crossed for Beattie to head home. And then Brian Devlin got on the score sheet when after Maghera failed to deal with a Blues corner, Brady passed out to Devlin to take a touch and curl an effort past the keeper from outside the box to make it 8-1 after 64 minutes.

Substitute Spinu soon made it 9-1 on 78 minutes when he tapped home after the keeper parried out Devlin’s shot and Spinu doubled his tally for the day on 82 minutes when he headed home a Brady corner to make it 10-1.