PSNI HIT FIVE PAST QUEEN'S AT THE DUB

PSNI picked up a valuable three points with a high scoring and entertaining Bluefin Sport Championship defeat of Queen's University at The Dub.

The deadlock was broken on 20 minutes when Nathan Best crossed from the right for Mark Anderson to slot home the opening goal from just inside the area.

Then, four minutes later, Nathan Riddle made it 2-0 in similar circumstances when he got on the end of another Best delivery.

And, remarkably, Best crossed from the right for a third time just after the half-hour mark for Anderson to knock home a third goal after the ball was only partially cleared.

The Students pulled a goal back on 55 minutes when the PSNI's Nathan O'Neill touched the ball into his own net whilst attempting to clear Jonah Mitchell's corner.

However, Brian Cabraley restored the PSNI's three-goal soon after with a superb left-foot drive from the edge of the area after bringing the ball forward when he won possession in the middle of the park but, almost immediately, Marc McKenna bagged number two for Queen's with a composed 20-yard effort from the left into the bottom right corner.

Despite pressing to reduce the deficit further, Queen's were caught hopping on 77 minutes when a clearance by PSNI keeper Daniele di Giorgio reached Tony Tumelty who promptly ran onto the ball to slide it past the advancing Conor Lally.

Substitute Lorcan McIlroy did score a consolation third for Queen's with the ball appearing to take a deflection as it squeezed past di Giorgio at the near post.

There was still time for some late drama when Queen's skipper Matthew Hughes was brought down by the di Giorgio inside the area but the PSNI keeper redeemed himself with a superb save low to his right to keep out Mitchell's spot-kick.

PSNI: di Giorgio, MacLeod, Riddle, Harland, Turk, Hutchinson, Best, O'Neill, Tumelty, Cabraley, Anderson subs Green (replaced Best 78), Whittle (replaced MacLeod 78), Gauthier (not used), Martyn (replaced Cabraley 74), McCleery (not used)

Queen's University: Lally, Corry, Calvert, McManus, Robinson, Bonnes, Hughes, McKenna, O'Hare, Mitchell, Young subs McIlroy (replaced O'Hare 59), Mulholland (replaced Corry 77), Torrens (not used), Magee (replaced Calvert 46), Mulgrew (not used)