Football: Limavady get the better of Coagh United

In mid-week Coagh put on a strong show against Championship one side Carrick Rangers in the League Cup but eventually went down 3-1.

On Saturday, Coagh started the match without five players. Injuries to Steven Lamont and William Ferguson meant they did not travel while Mathew Kempton, Jonathan Young and James Ferguson all missed the match due to a wedding.

The home side with five regulars returned to the side pushed Coagh from the start and should have taken an early lead through Cathal Friel while Corey McMullan was also guilty of an early miss.

Coagh survived the onslaught but could do nothing to stop Friel opening his account on 25 minutes with a lob over the advancing Hassan.

Coagh responded with Mathew McGaw pulling off a good save from Aaron Campbell. William Hassan in the Coagh goal remained the busier of the two keepers making stops from Friel and McCallion but with Coagh’s back line at sixes and sevens Friel nipped in to score a simple goal on 37 minutes.

The visitors made an instant change bringing off Stephen Glasgow for Adam Colbert but as Coagh regrouped, Corey McMullan ran clear to score the home side’s third goal.

Lee Smyth missed a half chance on goal before being replaced by Robert Stewart. The home side continued to push forward but failed to produce the final pass in the last quarter.

Coagh brought on Alexi Cabral for Andrew Kelso and with fellow country man Edson Cunha the Portuguese pair set up Campbell but again the save was made.

Cabral and the hard working Aaron Campbell again linked well but Campbell’s cross was just too high for the head of the Coagh number 15. As the game petered out, Garth Browne came off the bench to score the final goal.

Coagh will be hoping to have a number of players back before this Saturday’s home encounter with Lurgan Celtic. Kick off at Hagan Park is 3pm.

Limavady: Mathew McGaw, Marcus Kane, Brian Morrison, Ryan Mullan, Conor O’Hara, Hugh Carlin, Jack Heaney, Gary McFadden, Carvin McCallion, Cathal Friel, Corey McMullan, Peter Lynch, Gerald Louge, Garth Browne, Brian McCallion, Wesley Ferguson.

Coagh United FC: William Hassan, Scott McGeown Mark Drennan, Stephen Glasgow (Adam Colbert), Aaron Thornton, Mark Taylor, John Henry, Lee Smyth (Robert Stewart) Andrew Kelso (Alex Cabral), Edson Cunha.

Referee- Declan Hassan. Assistants- Gary Ewing, Richard Scott.