Limavady United keep up promotion charge

Limavady United 4-1 Newington

THE Roesiders stepped back into the win column in dominant fashion after putting four goals past Newington at Inver Park.
The Swans took the lead first in the afternoon after Paul Donnelly’s initial shot was saved; the rebound fell to Jay Donnelly, who found Stuart and a tap-in past Marty Gallagher edged them ahead after 20 minutes.
The Roesiders responded quickly and were handed a route back into the game when Leon Boyd’s effort struck the arm of Aodhfionn Casey inside the area.
Butcher stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to bring the sides level.
Six minutes later the forward found the net again from 12 yards after Richard Gowdy was penalised for a challenge on Adam Mullan, giving the visitors the lead.
Limavady strengthened their advantage early in the second half when Tiarnan Boorman was brought down in the box, with Butcher converting once more to complete his hat-trick.
The scoring was rounded off late on as Lewis Tosh latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Ryan McNickle and finished confidently to secure a 4–1 win for Limavady United.
“It was a good victory on the road and it’s nice to get back into winning ways and pick up the three points,” said Limavady manager Paul Owens.
“It’s not often you get three penalties all in the one game and, to be honest, there should have been a fourth.
“But it’s important that we keep picking up every point from now until the end of the season.
“The post-split fixtures are going to be tough but it’s important that we keep putting in the work and the performances to push for promotion,” added Owens.
Saturday’s win keeps Limavady two points behind Annagh United as the league enters the last game before the split, and that fixture is between Limavady and third-placed H&W Welders, who trail by nine points.
“It’s still close at the top between us and Annagh.
“If we don’t win the league, then we may still make the play-offs - and if we don’t get promoted this season, we will get there eventually,” said Owens.

LIMAVADY: Gallagher, Farren, T. Boorman, P. Lowry, S. Lowry, R. Boorman, (Butcher 24’ 30’, 48 (pen) , Brown, Gaston, Mullan, Boyd

NEWINGTON: Brown, Casey, Gowdy, R. Donnelly, (Stuart 20’), Downey, McIlhone, Gorman, Corish, P. Donnelly, J. Donnelly

Referee: Stewart Long