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Limavady ‘breeze’ into next round of Cup

Thursday, 9 February 2012

A Limavady player shields the ball from a Comrades player

Ballyclare Comrades.........................1
Limavady United..............................5
Limavady United breezed through this fourth round Intermediate Cup tie winning at a canter on a mud plug of a pitch.
United got off to a blistering start belying their long break without a competitive fixture. They took the lead in the 5th minute when Gareth McConachie forced the ball in from close range after the ball was crossed in from the left and no one was close enough to get in a block. 
Parkhill was then hauled down by Harbinson, who received a booking for his troubles.
The visitors took a further mammoth stride towards the victory after 9 minutes when Parkhill pounced on a rebound after McConachie's free kick from the left was beaten out by Paddy Flood. 
Comrades were stunned but within a minute could have got back in the tie when McCormick parried Moore's shot from an acute angle for a corner.
 McConachie then went into the book for a wild tackle but the resultant free kick was wasted. However Comrades did work an equaliser when Simms' cross field pass split the defence for McDowell to prod the ball in. 
McConachie again forced Flood to produce a good save from a trademark free kick on the half hour. Then Patrick finished off a flowing move with a low shot from wide on the left that was well wide. But the home side suffered another blow when Harbinson received a second yellow card after hacking down Friel just outside the box to have a home debut that was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
The second half began with United in total control as Lynch and Patrick bossed the midfield but when the former was subbed by McIvor the game opened up.
United had the lion's share of the chances and on 65 minutes substitute Friel scored the killer third with a cool finish. 
United received a welcome boost when long term absentee Trevor Hutchinson came on with 20 minutes to go. Almost immediately Friel cut in from the left and crossed to the unmarked Patrick whose effort hit a defender and smacked the bar.
But on 63 minutes United produced the move and goal of the match. Hutchinson and McLaughlin were involved in neat inter-passing that sent Friel through on goal and he ran through the defence before unleashing a precision volley that gave Flood no chance. 
There was still time for a late flare up that produced yellow cards for McClean and Mullan- who had an otherwise impressive debut. With four minutes left Hutchinson found himself unmarked in the box and swivelled to shoot low past Flood for the fifth. Considering the conditions, and the poor state of the pitch, United can take great credit from the manner in which they went about the game.
So United now go to Ards Rangers in a replay of last season's controversial tie, but a repeat of this impressive display will surely see them progress in the competition. 

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