NIFL Premiership
Limavady United 1
Cliftonville 0

CLIFTONVILLE slumped to a third successive league defeat as Jamie McGonigle’s first half strike was the difference in Limavady United’s 1-0 win over the Reds at the Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon.

The former Coleraine, Derry City and more recently Sligo Rovers striker pounced on a PJ Morrison error to score the only goal and give the Roesiders a third league win of the season much to the anger of Reds boss Jim Magilton who accepted responsibility for the loss.

“It was a really poor performance, embarrassing at times,” Magilton reflected. “A real lack of quality, a real lack of intensity. We didn't really test the goalkeeper. All the things that we set up to play.

“We’ve changed shape three or four times to try and get a little bit of life into us, but listen, I take full responsibility. That's the team I picked, the changes I made, so it's on me.

“We had a late rally, but it was absolutely too late. You know, there's a bit of pushing and shoving but it’s too late. That’s all gimmicky, it’s all show. It’s not what you want, it’s not what you fans expect.

“They expect a team that plays attacking football, that plays with a bit of passion, that shows a little bit more energy than we’re showing. That’s two really, really poor performances and we need to stop the bleeding”.

Magilton made five changes from the side that were beaten 2-1 by Glentoran the previous weekend.

Aaron Wightman, Dan O’Connor, Luke Conlon, Joe Sheridan and Joe Gormley all came into the starting XI, at the expense of Shaun Leppard, Ben Quinn, Rhyss Campbell, Ollie Samuels and Liam McStravick – the later of the two missing out through injury.

Cliftonville carved out the game's first half chance when Rory Hale pulled the ball back and Brian Healy shot off target.

The hosts forced a corner and went close when Ruairi Boorman met Daniel Lafferty’s corner, but it hit the side netting.

The lively Jamie McGonigle then met Philp Lowry’s threaded pass, though he dragged an effort across the face of goal.

McGonigle would break the deadlock in the 19th minute. Alfie Gaston applied enough pressure on PJ Morrison whose clearance was wayward and charged down by McGonigle with the Dungiven native lifting the ball over Morrison and into the empty net to make it 1-0.

It was all one way traffic in the aftermath as Limavady had numerous opportunities to extend their lead.

Gaston flashed a shot past the post, McGonigle clipped the top of the bar ahead of PJ Morrison making a smart save to prevent Ruairi Boorman’s goalbound header from finding the net. At the break McGongile’s goal proved the difference.

The Roesiders picked up where they left off before the interval as McGonigle’s turn and shot drew another stop from Morrison.

United keeper Marty Gallagher was very much a bystander for the majority of proceedings, substitute Keevan Hawthorne was the first to call him into action and he then gathered a dangerous Dean McMaster attempt that he initially parried.

The Reds pressure cranked up in the closing stages, McMaster let fly with an effort that Gallagher was equal to and Kyle McClelland then met substitute Ben Quinn’s corner, but his header hit the bar.

It all came too little too late as Limavady held on to claim all three-points and leave the Solitude side with much soul searching to do.

LIMAVADY UNITED: Gallagher, Farren, T Boorman, P Lowry, McGonigle, R Boorman (Carlin 82’), Butcher (Boyd 34’), Lafferty, Gaston (Duffy 90+1’), Wilson, Mullan.

CLIFTONVILLE: Morrison, Wightman (Campbell 50’), O’Connor (Thompson 25’), Hale, Healy (Hawthorne 57’), Conlon, McClelland, McMaster, Gormley, Bannon, Sheridan (Quinn 46’).

REFEREE: Louise Thompson