Warner Mullen was the hat-trick hero as Loughgall smashed Annagh United to earn their first points of the league campaign.
Loughgall welcomed back Steven Ferguson and Marcus Dallas into the heart of midfield after their suspensions.
Mullen grabbed his first of the game in the 20th minute when he glanced Steven Ferguson’s floated cross beyond ‘keeper Eoin Hughes and just inside the post..
A second was added seven minutes later when Stuart Mallen’s low cross from the left-hand side of the penalty area was converted by Mullen from close range.
And it could have been all over five minutes later only for ‘keeper Hughes’ fantastic double save to deny Ricky Copeland’s header from a corner and then John Uprichard’s follow up.
Annagh missed a great chance to pull a goal back on 36 minutes when Gardiner’s corner was met by Campbell however the central defender couldn’t keep his headed effort on target.
Jack Upritchard missed a great opportunity for the Villagers on the stroke of half-time when, racing clear towards goal, his weak shot was easily saved by Hughes.
Loughgall pulled three goals clear in the 58th minute when John Uprichard’s shot deflected into the path of right-back Andy Devlin who slotted home from inside the penalty area.
United had the ball in the net on 73 minutes however it was ruled that Campbell was in an offside position when he nodded home from close range.
With four minutes remaining Mullen grabbed his hat-trick when he turned inside the penalty area and finished confidently low into the bottom corner of the net.
The scoring wasn’t finished there as Devlin netted his second in injury time when he headed substitute Paul Stretton’s whipped corner beyond goalkeeper Hughes.
Annagh United: Hughes, Campbell, McClurg (Hume 60m), Allen, Smith, Judge, Park, Doyle, McElroy (White 45m), Gardiner (Keegan 80m), Stewart. Subs: Whitten, Rae.
Loughgall: Buchanan, Devlin, Mallen, Copeland, Hudson, Dallas (Elliott 82m), Upritchard (Stretton 87m), Ferguson, Mullen, Uprichard, McCann (McMaster 77m). Unused subs: Finlay, Wright.
