This was Tobermore's fourth league win on the trot which has shot them up the table to within eight points of leaders Loughgall, and the 16 goals scored in their last four games won't do their goal difference any harm either.

Tobermore have always thought they were hard done by when the Welders scored a late equaliser in the earlier meeting at Tillysburn and it was clear to see from the kick off on Saturday that they weren't going to let the same thing happen this time.

Michael Walsh was moved to left back, as McQuillan was out through suspension, and he played a great game even getting onto the score board but it was the in-form Cooke who stole the show with two strikes in a devastating minute.

The first arrived on nine minutes, when Tobermore were well on top. He drifted in from the left and fired a fierce shot past keeper Thompson who had no chance of stopping it and inside a minute he doubled his tally when Walsh picked him out with a long ball.

He received the ball about 25-yards from goal and spotted Thompson off his line and beat him with a superb lob to put Tobermore two up and in the driving seat.

Mervyn Pattison added number three on 35 minutes when he latched onto a pass from Jimmy Crockett and Walsh completed the first half rout when he slotted home five minutes from half time.

As expected Tobermore took the foot off the gas in the second half which encouraged the visitors to have a go and to be fair to the Welders Hassan in Tobermore's goals was forced to bring off at least three great save to help protect a clean sheet with Craig in particular always a threat.

Tobermore also had chances to increase their lead in the second half but couldn't find the ne again and the game fizzled out as a contest well before the final whistle.

After the game a delighted Tobermore boss, Aidy McLaughlin, said: "We were superb in the first half and scored four good goals but Sammy and I are less pleased with our second half performance as we seemed to be happy to sit back when we should have gone for more goals.

"But another valuable three points are in the bag and you can't really complain about four straight wins."

Tobermore United: Hassan, Walsh, Boyle, Kelly, McDaid, Lamont, Owens, Cooke, McLaughlin, Crockett, Pattison. Subs Campbell, Young & Doherty

Fixtures
Saturday March 8th Banbridge (away) Carnegie Irish League First Division 2.30 ko
Saturday March 15th Bangor (home) Carnegie Irish League First Division 2.30 ko
Saturday March 22nd Coagh (home) Carnegie Irish League First Division 2.30 ko
Saturday March 29th Ards (away) Carnegie Irish League First Division 2.30 ko

Tobermore United Mini Soccer Centre
Tobermore United's Mini Soccer Centre Sessions continue every Saturday morning at the usual time of 10.00 until 11.00 at Maghera Leisure Centre with the juniors inside in the main hall and the older group outside on the Astro turf.

The fun sessions are supervised by qualified coaches and are open to all boys and girls of primary school age.

Players should come along kitted out ready to play with trainers and shin guards essential for one hour of quality coaching and fun games.
For more information call Raymond Beatty on 028 7964 2445.