SOCCER: McCready and Logue net Limavady away win

Limavady United 3 Lurgan Celtic 0

If anyone in a blue shirt thought that this was a "gimme" for the Roesiders against the newly relegated home side, he was quickly disabused of the notion against a youthful but spirited home side that competed well for over an hour, and deserved credit for not letting their heads drop after going behind to an early McCready strike. But they were ultimately undone by their inability to score, and United limped over the line to claim a precious three points, and finally win on the road.

Playing into a strong gale, United looked nervous, and were grateful to Wells in the fifth minute as a volley from Ruairi McDonald which stung his hands. However their nerves were eased four minutes later, as Owens began a move through the heart of the home defence which saw the ball worked to Hume, who slipped it to McCready in space on the right , and he coolly steered the ball into the far corner to break his goal drought.

Celtic were desperately unlucky not to equalise on 13 minutes, as Crawford whipped a free kick into the box which just eluded two attackers at the far post. United should have doubled their advantage in the twentieth minute, as Owens collected Logue's probing cross field pass and chipped the keeper, but his shot hit the staunchion of the goal. Five minutes later they squandered another great chance, breaking out in numbers from a corner, and McCready opted to shoot instead of passing to the unmarked Hume, but saw his effort blocked.

United's last chance of the half came in the 37th minute, as Owens took a free kick from just outside the box, lifting the ball over the wall, but also high over the bar. However the last eight minutes of the half belonged to the home side, who tried in vain to turn possession into goals. In the 43rd minute Fiedhleim McDonald shot narrowly wide, and within a minute a long throw into the box fell kindly for Ruairi McDonald, who swivelled and shot over the bar.

After the break United pushed for a second goal, and first Logue fired over, quickly followed by Devlin's volleyed effort. But they really should have scored on 63 minutes, as Hume was left unmarked in the box, and he volleyed powerfully, only to be foiled by Cush's fine reaction save. However, on 68 minutes, United got the insurance goal through Logue, who drove through the home defence, and thumped the ball into the net.

The game finally settled into the expected pattern, as United strangled the midfield, and the chances continued to come their way. On 72 minutes Logue again went close, trapping the ball and turning before firing wide. Bradley also went close, connecting with Hume's cutback, but failing to hit the target. But on 86 minutes they got the goal that their dominance deserved, after a long kick out from Wells was cleverly trapped by Hume, and he slipped the ball to McCready, who repeated his first half strike, stroking the ball past Cush into the bottom corner.

United could have added to their haul, as Cush produced a top drawer reaction save from Hume's volley, but that would have been hard on the home side, which had given its all, but was simply unable to create a clear cut chance. The visitors performance was far from a classic, but it may turn to have massive significance in their battle to avoid the dreaded play off. Sometimes all that matters is the result.

Lurgan Celtic: Caolan Cush, Adam Henderson, Rioghan Crawford, Shane McCabe, Aaron Rogers, Jordan Gibson, Curtis Hallisay, Kevin Hagan, Michael Doran (Andrew McAlinden 50), Fiedhleim McDonald, Ruairi McDonald. Substitutes: Emmet Farran, Brian Toland, Caolan Lavery. Cautioned: F McDonald (57).

Limavady United: Paul Wells, Johnny Watt (c.), Andy Devlin, Graham Crown, Stuart McMullan (Bryan McClelland (h-t), Gary McFadden, Paul Owens (Joel Bradley 68), Lee Harkin (Gerard Gillan 64), Robbie Hume, Joe McCready. Substitutes not used: Hugh Carlin, Zach Barr. Cautioned: Gillan (79)

Referee: Peter McGrath