Limavady United youth team reports

LIMAVADY Youths under 16's started their national league campaign against Linfield on Saturday.

The youths started well and had lot of possession early on and had goalscoring chances through Logue, Hazlett and Aaron Mullan.

However it was Linfield who would take the lead on 15 minutes when their Number 7 burst into the box to slot a cross home, low and hard past Findlay in the Limavady goal.

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Linfield extended their lead on 25 minutes, when they fired home by their Number 8 despite the best efforts of Kelly and Findlay.

Five minutes after the interval Limavady had chances from Logue and McFeeley well saved by the Linfield keeper.

The youths conceded a third goal when defender Kelly was out-muscled the Linfield striker slotted home coolly past Findlay.

Limavady Team: Findlay, Holmes, Ad Mullan (c), Kelly, Hassan, Foster, McCloskey, A.Mullan,. Logue, McFeeley, Hazlett. ]

Subs: Smith, Lynch, McCloskey, Stafford, Cooke, Wing.

Limavady United Under 17's

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Limavady United under 17's took on Ballmoney United under 17's in their second pre-season game at the Riada Stadium Ballmoney last Thursday.

The game was played in treacherous conditions but Limavady started well and had early goal chances from Loughrey and King well saved.

Ballymoney then pressed and goalkeeper McDonald was forced to pull off a top-drawer save low to his right.

The game became flat but mid-way through the first-half King won a free-kick 40 yards out on the right and Logue sliced what was supposed to be a cross into the net.

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Both teams had chances later in the half but Mullan and Rankin made crucial blocks and interceptions, at the other end Holmes and Kealey missed good chances.

The second half started like the first and Limavady again missed good chances through O'Kane and Fleming. Although they did extend their lead when Rankin and McElhinney combined to set-up Kealey who made a great turn and rifled the ball past the keeper into the roof of the net.

Ballymoney then stepped up their game and McDonald made two more crucial saves and Darryl Mullan made a goal line clearance but Ballymoney pulled one back when their Number 9 who appeared to be offside was played through and rounded McDonald in goals before slotting home.

Deep in injury time Ballymoney scored with a crisp strike from 20 yards after Limavady made changes in personnel and position.

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Limavady team: McDonald, McElhinney, Rankin, Mullan, Fleming, Hassan, Logue, King, McClelland, Holmes, Loughery.

Subs: Doherty, O'Kane, Welsh-Rush.

Limavady Youths U-15s v

Portadown Youth FC U-15s

LIMAVADY entertained Portadown on Saturday at the Scroggy Road playing fields with the home team hoping to capitalise on good recent form by getting their first win of the season.

The match was fairly even in the first ten minutes with both sides enjoying periods of good possession. However, the home team began to dominate towards the middle of the first half with Jamie McGonigle, Jake Taylor and Jordan Thompson coming close. The Limavady defence comprising Jordan McCaul in goal, Evan Donnell, Jack Deery and Markus Condren stayed tight throughout, dealing with the Portadown strikers. Stephen Duffy had an excellent game playing the holding role in midfield and he was supported by Ruari McElwee and Jake Taylor in the middle with Jordan Thompson and Corey McKinney on the flanks. McKinney came close to scoring from a well worked free kick in the 30th minute and Limavady finally broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when Peter Lynch laid the ball back to Ruari McElwee who struck a sweet shot from just inside the box to make it 1-0. This was a great time to score for the home side as they went in for the half time break shortly after.

Limavady began the second half very strongly, dominating possession and playing a brand of passing football which Portadown had difficulty dealing with. The home team had a number of chances to increase the lead and the second eventually came on 50 minutes when Ruari McElwee jumped high at the back of the Portadown box to head home from a pinpoint Stephen Duffy cross. Defender Markus Condren nearly got onto the scoresheet soon afterwards but a his powerfully struck shot from the edge of the box clipped the Portadown centre half to go out for a corner. Limavady got stronger as the game progressed and although Portadown had a number of efforts on goal, these were generally from distance and the Limavady keeper Jordan McCaul was rarely troubled. Limavady put the game beyond doubt in the 62nd minute when the excellent McElwee played a one-two with Grant Campbell on the left hand side and managed to score a superb individual goal, chipping the Portadown keeper from a very narrow angle. Limavady made a number of substitutions and changed formation bringing Jack King, Andy Miller Glen Watt and Andy Purcell on for the final period of the game. The match finished 3-0 to Limavady. This was a well deserved result in the fourth game of the season, and one on which the managemement hope to build. The boys are now looking forward to entertaining high-flying Cliftonville at home next Saturday.

Limavady Youths U14 v

Larne Youths U14

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LIMAVADY welcomed Larne for their fourth league game of the season.

Limavady' s management had to do a reshuffle as their injury list keeps growing with keeper sam mc alary out of action after breaking his toe, Kyle Walker with a hip injury and robert caldwell with a long term heel injury. With no keeper Finbarr O'Brian stepped up to the mark in goals and with only one fit centre half craig witherow slotted in from midfield to defence and put in a man of the match performance beside Aaron Butcher.

Limavady kicked of the first half but it was Larne quickest of the mark pulling a fine first save from finbar. Limavady then settled and for the next twenty minutes had most of the play but could not capitalise. conor kelly started an attack with a great pass up the line for Alex Pomeroy to run onto and with a whipped cross in front of larnes keeper no one could get a connection on it. Larne then had a corner which was cleared of the line by bj hylands at the back post.

Limavady on the attack again with Jamie McElwee seen him cut into the box and the larne keeper making a save at his near post. Limavady then got a throw level with the eighteen yard line and distance thrower witherow throw the ball into the box which fell to adam hylands who shot wide.

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Limavady won a free kick outside the area which witherow struck well but the Larne keeper was equal to it. Limavady the switched of with about fifteen minutes left of the half and larne scored two goals. twice men were left free in dangerous areas with Limavady's midfield not tracking back fast enough to help their defence and crosses coming across from the right their centre forward left free both times to score.

Half-time Limavady 0-2 Larne. The second half was started by Larne and Adam Hylands had the first shot of the half but put it wide. Limavady then made a sub bringing on Luke McLaughlin just back from injury for Alex Pomeroy. Ryan McMichael played a nice pass through the Larne defence but it was just too long for McElwee to get on the end of. larne then had a freekick just outside the box but the wall did its job and stood solid. Limavady gave Larne a freekick inside the box when Aaron Butcher was pulled up for obstruction. Limavady's defence delt with this one also.

Limavady looked a different side and were battling hard in the middle with some great tackles from Danny Gilfillan and were unlucky to go another goal down but the larne striker did well turning his defender and getting a great shot giving O'Brian no chance in goal. Limavady went straight on the attack with McLaughlin down the right and as he powered into the box was pulled down and won a penalty which james payne place well into the top corner. unfortunatly this was lukes last action we hope his injury heels quickly. this goal again spurred Limavady on and from a corner aaron butcher rose highest to place a firm header into the net to make it 2-3.

Limavady started to pile on the pressure and had larne under pressure when from another corner butcher again had another good header cleared from the line to Limavady's avail, as they were chasing an equaliser Larne broke and scored twice in the dying minutes to kill of a brave fit back from Limavady. Final score Limavady 2-5 Larne.

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On another day this score could have been reversed but Limavady must cut out the sloppiness that is starting to creep into the side.

They showed how well they can play football in their first four games but have been punished when they have switched of during the games. Limavady's management wishes a speedy recovery to their injured players, Sam McAlary, Robert Caldwell, Luke McLaughlin and Kyle Walker as the have been working with only a couple of subs for most of the season so far.

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