Match Sponsor: Fleming  & Cuthbert Funeral Directors - 10 Mill Road Ballyclare, BT39 9DY - Tel: 02893344242

Ball Sponsor: Cedar Tree Florist, Ballyclare -16 Main Street, Ballyclare, BT39 9AB - Tel: 02893 352924

Match Photos: Graeme Bolton Photography

Subs: Kyle Agnew, Stuart Galbraith, Darren Munster, Scott Irvine, Sam McWilliams

Comrades substitutions

Keith Armstrong (67')

Kyle Agnew (67')

Gareth Curlett (76')

Stuart Galbraith (67')

Mark McClelland (76')

Darren Munster (76')

Goals

Trevor Hutchinson (16')

Trevor Hutchinson (43')

Steven Lowry (60')

Declan McKeever (65')

Comrades cards

Andy Forsythe (88')

Comrades man of the match

Mark McClelland

Passing the ball smartly from player to player the Reds showed up well throughout the first half, even after falling behind to a controversial opening goal in the 16th minute. Allen Huxley, deputising for Paddy Flood who was injured, appeared to be obstructed when attempting to collect a deep McConaghie cross, but the referee allowed the score to stand, when Hutchinson stabbed the ball in to the net from close range. Ten minutes later Comrades spurned a glorious opportunity to level the scores, when Drysdale found himself unmarked a few yards out from a Simms corner, but his header flew over the bar when he really should have been on target at least. United had a good spell around the half hour mark, with skipper Patrick heading just wide with Huxley at full stretch, and moments later McKeever shaved the upright with a long range effort, before Huxley pulled off the best save of the afternoon. Patton skilfully beat two players down the by-line, but was thwarted by the keeper who went down smartly at the near post to smother the ball when a goal seemed on the cards. Two minutes before the break Comrades suffered another blow, when slack marking allowed Hutchinson to double his tally with a header from Patton's cross in to the danger area. So despite having had plenty of possession Comrades found themselves trailing 2-0. Both keepers had narrow escapes within the opening minutes of the second session. Full back Andy Long seemed set to score when he pounced on a loose ball six yards out, but his angled shot was deflected for a corner by a defender. Seconds later Drysdale was the home hero when he cleared an Owens drive off the line with Huxley well beaten.  On the hour Owens missed an open goal after having been set up by influential substitute Sweeney, but in the 62nd minute Lowry did better when he fired in to the net off the back post, after Patton had made the opening on the right flank. Straight from the restart Mark McClelland who had posed problems for the Limavady defence all afternoon was denied by the woodwork, when his left foot drive beat Doherty but crashed against the bar after he neatly turned his marker on the edge of the box. In the 65th minute the Reds conceded a playground goal. Doherty's long kick out was allowed to bounce in the home penalty area, where left winger McKeever nipped in ahead of keeper Huxley to nod the ball over the stranded keeper to complete the scoring. On their second half display Limavady deserved to win, but they were flattered by the winning margin. 

Thanks to George Brown for this match report, as I was absent attending a wedding.