Disappointing top of the table defeat for Limavady United

THE chance to go six points clear at the top was nullified by a determined Annagh United side, who defeated the Roesiders 3–1 at the Showgrounds.

The visitors might have gone in front after 15 minutes when a handball inside the area resulted in a penalty, but Tobi Jinadu was denied from the spot as Martin Gallagher produced a strong save.

Annagh did move ahead on 31 minutes, however, when Craig Taylor latched onto a James Convie through ball and finished confidently at the near post beyond Gallagher.

The Roesiders responded early in the second half, drawing level through a Mikhail Kennedy set-piece from the edge of the area, but Paul Owens admitted his side failed to impose their usual authority on the game.

“It was probably as poor as we’ve been, and in one of the biggest games of the season to show it,” Owens said. “It’s just more the manner of it. We left men for goals, we switched off for goals, and we didn’t have the control that we usually do.”

Annagh regained the lead on 58 minutes when Conall Young’s free-kick into the box was volleyed home at the far post by Kris Calvert, before Jinadu finally got his name on the scoresheet on 74 minutes, converting from close range after Calvert’s initial effort, following a Taylor cross, was cleared off the line.

The absence of suspended midfielder Stephen Lowry was also highlighted as a key factor in the defeat.

“We missed Stevie Lowry in the match and he’s obviously a massive player for us,” Owens added. “We lacked the quality of football out there that Stevie makes us play. He controls games, makes the squad play better football, and I’m disappointed in how we performed without him.”

Despite the result, Owens was keen to point out the wider context, with the loss bringing an end to a lengthy unbeaten run.

“This was the longest unbeaten run across the Irish League this season, and it’s done now,” he said. “There are 14 games left, so we’ll have to go and try to string another 14 together if we want to win this league. There’s a lot of learning to be taken from this loss — it was more a lack of responsibility than anything.”

Attention now turns to this weekend’s trip to Ards, where a response is expected.

“Ards is going to be a very tough game, but we’ll go into it like wounded animals,” Owens said. “We’ve never lost back-to-back games in two years, so I do expect a response, and I know we will get one.”