Roesiders are preparing well

Last weekend they defeated junior side Ballycastle six nil with Trevor Hutchinson bagged four goals. Peter Spratt and Conleth McCaughen also found the target.

Last Thursday Ballymena United were the visitors to the Showgrounds for Lee Patrick's testimonial and ended up on the end of a five nil hammering.

The Roesiders attacked from the off and a deep cross from the left was completely missed by Dwayne Nelson and home striker Shane Jennings popped up at the back post to head the opening goal.

Shell-shocked Ballymena began to fight back but struggled to cope with an organised and resolute Limavady side, managed by former Braid favourite Oran Kearney.

Against the run of play Limavady doubled their lead on 25 minutes, man of the moment Lee Patrick's cross from the right was met perfectly by the head of Trevor Hutchinson, leaving Nelson no chance.

The home side added a third after Michael Smith (II) played a dangerous back pass which Aaron Stewart failed to control, allowing Conleth McCaughen in to produce a fantastic chip over Dwayne Nelson which sent the Roesiders into a stunning lead going into the break.

Jennings added his second goal of the evening eight minutes from time, firing past substitute goalkeeper Marc Maybin just minutes after the young goalkeeper came on.

United's luck was compounded with two minutes remaining when a Limavady United corner deflected off defender Aaron Stewart and past Maybin for the home side's fifth goal.

Last Saturday saw United's third pre-season game as they entertained Tommy Wright's Lisburn Distillery last Saturday.

The former Roesiders boss wouldn't have been overly pleased however as his side were cut open consistently by United.

However his side did earn a draw although United will feel that they did more than enough to win the game.

In the 30th minute a mix-up between Distillery's keeper and centre half allowed Hutchinson the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net.

The visitors pulled a goal back two minutes later when Simpson found the net with a powerful header.

United regained the lead in the 37th minute. Peter Spratt's sublime through ball picked out Hutchinson and he produced an inch perfect chip that nestles nicely in the far corner.

In fact the striker should have added to his total as he saw a close range effort tipped over and dragged another chance wide with only the keeper to beat.

The Whites levelled late in the game when Damian McNulty unluckily deflected the ball past his own goalkeeper.

United were missing several players due to holidays, work commitments and the Milk Cup and lined up as follows.

United: Anderson, Walsh, McKeever, Roddy, McNulty, McKenna, Owens, Spratt, Jennings, Hutchinson, Clarke.

United have two more pre-season matches this week. The first is at Coleraine tomorrow night, kick-off at 7.45pm and on Saturday at 3pm the Roesiders will be at Derriaghy.