Henry hat-trick takes South Antrim to seventh heaven

South Antrim Firsts travelled to Stormont on Saturday to take on league minnows PSNI.

Having faltered in seasons past against the so called lesser sides, South knew they needed nothing less that a win to keep title aspirations on track.

South Antrim came out of the block at full pace and looked to impose themselves on the game early on. The pace and flair of the South front men caused PSNI all sorts of problems from the off and South thought they had the lead when Phillips finished into an empty net but was brought back to award a short.

South looked to capitalize, the resulting drag flick was saved by the keeper who was also first to rebound and cleared the ball to safety.

However, the breakthrough wasn’t long coming, after Ward Phillips was cynically body checked just outside the 25. The PSNI man was yellow carded and a quick free to Adam Glass who drew two players in for tackle, laid a square pass to Chris Henry, who was unmarked at the top of the D, then slapped home.

South had to wait a while longer for their second, coming eventually after many tries, as Simon Watt audaciously lobed the keeper from the baseline for Maguire to tap in at the back post.

Starting the second half with a two goal lead, the Lisburn men grew in confidence and pressed harder.

Two minutes in, they were another goal to the good as an arching run from pacy forward Chris Henry found space to roof a shot high into the net from far out.

South shortly made it four as a switch in a short corner routine to Lee Marshall found a foot on the line. Glass made no mistake and buried the flick.

South then turned defence into attack and within seconds Watt’s shot had beaten the keeper and Maguire had touched in the ball to the open net.

The next goal came straight from the training ground as South passed it about in the opponents circle, allowing Henry to complete his hat-trick with the simplest of goals at the back post.

Looking to replicate the previous goal, combination play down the right resulted in Mark Gray rounding the keeper only to have his shot cleared off the line.

The captain added his name to the score sheet shortly after, Marshall took the free and dribbling past the remaining defender and slapped into the bottom corner.

South nearly made it eight as a dummy at the top of the circle found marauding centre back Chris Redpath free, undecided on whether to shoot or slip the ball past the keeper, Redpath left it a moment too late as the PSNI keeper came out to smother the ball.

The game finished 7-0 and the South men will be happy with their performance and look to carry it on into next week’s fixture at home to Bangor. Man of the Match went to Adam Marshall. Many thanks to Sponsors Phillips Lisburn.