NIFL Premiership

Limavady 2
Cliftonville 1

CLIFTONVILLE surrendered an early advantage in a hugely disappointing 2-1 defeat away to Limavady United on Friday evening.

Rory Hale had the Reds in front for a short period in the early exchanges before John Butcher glanced home.

Just before the hour mark former Coleraine and Ballymena United defender Stephen O’Donnell headed home from a corner and that proved the difference as the hosts inflicted a second defeat on the Solitude this campaign, much to the frustration of Jim Magilton who felt they were full value for the win.

“I think Limavady deserved to win the game,” Magilton reflected.

“We didn’t do enough, we didn’t make their keeper work enough. We got off to a good start- probably against the run of play, and it gave us a platform to go on, given our recent run of results but we didn't have enough.

“We looked as if for forty-five minutes we were still on the bus. We didn’t move the ball anywhere near quick enough, we didn’t do what we have been doing really well, we didn’t attack in numbers or defend in numbers, our spaces were wide open.

“Against any team, they are looking to capitalise and I think Limavady did really well and played really well. We can’t concede the goals we conceded. One was a set-piece and free header.

“They capitalised on that and listen they’ve got something to protect, they’re going to do that by throwing bodies on the line but I thought they played some really good football. In between, good football. We never tested their goalkeeper so that is massively disappointing for us."

Magilton made one enforced alteration to his side from the Friday’s 4-2 win over Larne. Ben Quinn dropped out with dislocated shoulder and in form Rhyss Campbell returned to the starting XI following his three goals in recent weeks.

Cliftonville made the breakthrough after 11-minutes at the Limavady Showgrounds. Joe Sheridan slipped a pass through to Rory Hale and after spotting Marty Gallagher off his line, Hale tried an ambitious lob from 40-yards and it beat the Roesiders goalkeeper and dropped into the net to make it 1-0.

The lead lasted less than two minutes however as Paul Owens' charges hit back. Lewis Tosh’s cross from the right took a deflection and John Butcher flicked header found the net.

Just past the midway point in the half Joe Sheridan’s shot from outside the area forced Gallagher to push the ball behind at the expense of a corner.

Limavady could have hit the front themselves, Lewis Tosh tried to round PJ Morrison though with the angle against him he passed it into the area, Tosh took up the reins again and shot inches past the post.

A quickly taken Aaron Jarvis free-kick then released Tosh and his cross was eventually gathered by Morrison at the second attempt.

Ruairi Boorman upended Rhyss Campbell on the edge of the box and that allowed Dean McMaster the opportunity to add to his catalogue of set-piece goals, however on this occasion the Scottish midfielder put too much power on his effort as it scaled the target as the sides headed in at the break with the score 1-1.

The second half sprang to life just before the hour mark, John Butcher was denied his second of the evening after his fierce effort was somehow turned behind by PJ Morrison.

The resulting corner from the right was an outswinger by Lewis Tosh and Stephen O’Donnell rose highest to glance home and make it 2-1.

Jim Magilton immediately sought to alter things by introducing Joe Gormley and Harry Wilson from the bench. A few minutes after his introduction Gormley hooked a shot over the crossbar.

Further attacking armour entered the field in pursuit of a leveller, but despite their dominating position in the closing stages they never truly pressured Marty Gallagher in the Limavady goal.

Instead it was Limavady who went closest to extending their lead in the dying embers, Oisin Duffy intercepted in midfield and drove forward- though PJ Morrison diverted his shot behind for a corner.

In the end, O’Donnell’s goal was the difference as Cliftonville slumped to their second defeat at the Limavady Showgrounds this campaign and their momentum gathered in recent weeks now comes to an end.

LIMAVADY UNITED: Gallagher. Farren, Jarvis, P Lowry, S Lowry, Tosh (Gaston 83’), O’Donnell, Boorman, Butcher (Duffy 86’), Lafferty, Wilson.

CLIFTONVILLE: Morrison, Wightman, Bannon, Leppard, Conlon (Thompson 69’), McMaster, Sheridan (Wilson 61’), Hale, Campbell (Gormley 61’), Healy (Curran 69’), McStravick (Corrigan 69’).

REFEREE: Steven Gregg