Mullen hat-trick fires Strabane to victory

Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League

Brantwood FC....2

Strabane Athletic....5

LAST weekend saw another road trip for Strabane Athletic when they travelled to North Belfast to play a league game against Brantwood FC.

A sluggish start by Strabane had them under early pressure and after an effort was blocked by defender Aaron O'Hagan, the home team went ahead in the sixth minute with a low shot from just inside the penalty area.

Athletic weren't behind for long as an excellent pass from keeper Ruairi McElroy found Simon McGlynn.

His low cross was pushed out by the home keeper but only as far as Warner Mullen who equalised from close range.

The remainder of the first half belonged to the Strabane centre forward who helped himself to a hat trick before the interval.

Mullen had a shot palmed away and another just over the bar before being fouled in the area for a penalty after 25 minutes.

He confidently dispatched the spot kick to give Athletic the lead and just before half-time he extended it by flicking home from a corner kick at the near post.

The start of the second half saw Brantwood awarded a penalty for a foul and the kick was converted to reduce Athletic's lead to one goal.

Just as they had done in the first half, Strabane took control after the early setback and for the rest of the game, it was the local team who always looked more likely to score.

The two-goal margin was restored after 65 minutes when Aaron O'Hagan headed home from a corner.

Thereafter Athletic stroked the ball around fairly comfortably and sealed victory in the last minute when returning striker Fionn Faherty rounded the keeper and slotted home from a tight angle.

This wasn't Strabane's best performance of the season but they displayed bouncebackability after early reversals at the start of each half.

The win maintains Athletic's position at the top of their section but there are a few more awkward away trips on the horizon.

This weekend though it's back to Melvin Arena as they welcome Wellington Rec to Strabane for a Crawford Cup Group match.

Kick-off is at the local venue is 2pm.

Strabane Athletic: Ruairi McElroy; Michael Logue; Aaron O'Hagan; Peter Kirk; Luke McGeehan (Capt.); Conal Crawford; Darren McMonagle; Daniel Doran; Declan Sharkey; Warner Mullen; Simon McGlynn.

Subs: Eoin Haire (GK); Oran McShane; Fionn Faherty; Gary Merritt; Kelvin Nelson; Stephen Mills.