Limavady United clinch promotion to NIFL Championship after victory over Newry

Newry City 0

Limavady United 1

Carlsberg probably don't know about Limavady United, but if they did, then they couldn't have given them a much better Tuesday.

Starting the day with confirmation that the club had been awarded a Championship licence, the day ended with the first win at Newry Showgrounds for over thirty years, a second successive title, and promotion back to senior status after a nine year break.

Make no mistake; this was a brutal match, with precious little football being played, as nerves were only too obvious.

All the skill came from the home side; all the heart from the visitors. United were given the most searching of examinations without more than a few moments of worry- all handled by the excellent Wells. But after their stunning breakaway goal, scored by McFadden with 18 minutes to go, United were able to see out the last few minutes with more than a little elan.

Certainly Newry in the closing stages never looked like a team that knew it had to win to keep faint hopes of a title alive.

The game started with the home side very much on top, as they sought to deprive United of the point they needed to retain the title. Wells was early into the action, producing a fine diving save in the ninth minute, and five minutes later being at his best to keep out Walker's free kick from the edge of the box.

He was called into action again in the 26th minute, getting up well at the back post to snuff out the danger from a corner. But he saved his best for the 29th minute, when McCabe's precisely judged chip seemed a certain goal until the keeper stuck up a hand to keep the ball out.

United were living on scraps, but they missed a glorious chance to hit the front on 34 minutes, when Owens' free kick from wide left should have been forced in by Crown, but he blazed the ball high over the bar from close range. Newry felt they should have had a penalty four minutes later, when Carville fell inside the box under a heavy challenge from Lee Harkin. It was a let off for the visitors, but they got to the break without further scares.

Straight from the restart City's dangerous front three combined, Carville bursting down the line to cross from McCabe to head narrowly wide. It was Carville himself who went close on 54 minutes, being allowed too much space to turn and shoot narrowly wide. But the growing feeling that this was not to be their night was confirmed on 65 minutes with a major let off for United, as somehow a goalmouth scramble did not end with the ball in the net.

Having weathered the storm, United began to venture forward. The tireless Hume escaped his marker and got off a shot on 67 minutes, but Gordon saved well. This counter attack to Newry was a warning, as they were beginning to toil from their efforts, but it was not taken, as they fell behind on 72 minutes to a classic break.

Fittingly, inspirational player-manager Owens was the architect, with a superb ball splitting the high line of the home defence, finding the unlikely figure of McFadden, who held his nerve and- revealing hitherto hidden instincts of a striker- clinically stabbed the ball into the net for a glorious winner.

The home side wilted visibly, but Wells still had to save another effort from City on 75 minutes. United could have had another three minutes later, as Hume somehow wriggled past two defenders and had a shot which Gordon was equal to. In the last minute Mullan headed over when it seemed easier to score, but by then it wouldn't have mattered.

To travel to their nearest challengers and win for the first time in almost forty years is the answer to anyone who thought that United had blown their chance after falling to the same side 4-0 a few weeks ago. On the night Newry were certainly the better side, but they had to be if they were to keep their title hopes alive, and United "won ugly", which champions sometimes need to do.

All credit to Owens and his back room staff, who have battled limited resources. Thoughts now turn to the Intermediate Cup final at Windsor Park on 9th May, to crown one of the greatest seasons in the club's history.

Newry City: Kieran Gordon, Kevin McArdle, Conor McCaul, Patrick Mooney (Neil Mullan 53), John Boyle, Thomas McCann, James Walker, Keith Johnston, Mark McCabe, Declan Carville (Sean McMullan 78), Mark Hughes (c.) (Timmy Grant 78).

Substitutes not used: Marty Haveron, Mark Patton.

Cautioned: none.

Limavady United: Paul Wells, Marcus O'Kane, Declan McKeever, Johnny Watt, Graham Crown, Hugh Carlin (c.), Gary McFadden, Paul Owens, Lee Harkin, Robbie Hume, Joe McCready.

Substitutes not used: Ray Kelly, Jordan Thompson, Conor Logue, Adrian McLaughlin.

Referee: Mr. Mark Dillon (Banbridge).

Roesider Man of the Match: The entire squad!