Report

North End returned to league action against Finvoy, still smarting from their last encounter as they were emphatically beat 8.1 on that occasion. However, McColgans’ troops were quick out of the blocks and were 2 goals to the good in the opening 10 minutes!

Young starlet Robert Watson grabbed the 1^st as he showed great awareness and slotted the ball beyond the stranded visiting keeper after nice build up play by Michael Plant. Watson, a recent signing from Glentoran went on to grab a memorable hattrick, making him the youngest to ever do so for North End at just 17 years of age!

Michael Plant went from goal provider to goal getter as he was picked out by the marauding Craig Gilmore, who showed great composure in the box to pull a cross back for Plant to tuck in at the far post.

By the 18^th minute North End were 3 goals clear as William Sharkey capitalised during a period of severe weather conditions which was threatening the continuation of the match. Thankfully the hailstones and snow lifted and man of the match Robert Watson again showed great intelligence as he was first to react as the visiting keeper spilled a long range shot at goal from Jason Gallagher.

Craig Gilmore then rounded off the scoring for the 1^st period as he rose like a salmon and powered in an excellent header from a Plant corner.

The 2^nd half restarted with Finvoy determined to get themselves back into it and very quickly found the back of the net 3 times to make the tie 5-3! A match was truely on the cards and the next goal would prove vital. Thankfully for the home support Jamie Magill showed great technique to drill an effort from 22 yards which the keeper could helplessly push into the bottom corner of the goal.

This 6^th goal was a hammer blow to Finvoy who had rattled the North End in the opening period of the 2^nd half and the match petered out. That was until Robert Watson rounded off an impressive home league debut with his 3^rd of the day and that’s how the game finished!

With other results going their way, North End moved off the foot of the table and leapfrog 3 teams in the process, which takes them out of the relegation zone for the first time this season!

Commenting afterwards, North End manager Thomas McColgan stated ‘There’s a large squad to work with now, but preference was given to those who have attended training and I’m delighted with the energy and workrate by the selected in what was at times very difficult weather conditions. Credit must also go to Finvoy who gave us a real scare in the 2^nd half. We now look forward to next week’s match away to Woodlands and I will be hoping for a good turnout at training this week. It’s important we continue this rich vein of form and move up the league as high as we can.’