Championship

THE CHAMPIONSHIP KEEPS ON DELIVERING

02 Nov 2024
football

Limavady United’s recovery from two goals down to defeat Dundela was the highlight of another intriguing weekend of action in the Playr-Fit Championship.

There were also victories for Armagh City and Bangor, while it ended all square everywhere else.

The Roesiders trailed by two goals at the break at the Showgrounds.

Michael McLellan had headed the Duns in front on 12 minutes after connecting with Jack Smith’s right-wing cross before, on 34 minutes, he turned provider with an overhead kick into the box for Aaron Prendergast to volley home the second following a bit of pinball in the area.

Joe McCready teed Michael McCrudden up to pull one back early in the second half, with John Butcher slipping the ball under the keeper to level on the hour following a great team move.

And just as it looked like the game would end all square Lewis Tosh popped up a minute from time from Jake Martin’s cut back to grab the dramatic winner.

Armagh City also came from behind to collect all three points from Ballinamallard United’s visit to Holm Park.

Daniel Barker edged the Mallards in front on 39 minutes, not long after he had a goal ruled out offside while earlier in the game Gary Armstrong had struck an upright for the visitors.

Mark McConnell levelled for City early in the second half from Noeem Oladunjoye’s ball to the back post before, just past the hour, Ruairi Duffy rifled the Eagles in front from another Oladunjoye delivery.

Dale Montgomery then sent the ball over three minutes after that for Igor Rutkowski to extend the home advantage with a header, and whilst Barker did grab his second of the game later in the half it wasn’t enough to spark a late comeback.

Newry City and HW Welders matched each other kick for kick as they shared the spoils at the Showgrounds.

Ryan McNickle edged City in front early on with a spot-kick awarded for a foul on Adam Salley, although the Welders levelled soon after when Ryan McGivern turned a Josh Kee cross into his own net.

McNickle then restored the home advantage just before the hour with a close range finish but, as before, the visitors hit back within minutes as Tiarnan O’Connor finished off David Parkhouse’s lay-off in the area.

Newington and Ards also battled to an equal share of the four goals scored at Inver Park.

The Swans led at the break through Paul Donnelly’s 28th minute finish but Ards hit back within 30 seconds of the interval thanks to Ciaran Dobbin’s lofted finish over the advancing Dean Smyth after Patrick Cafolla had supplied the through ball.

Connor Maxwell then edged Ards in front a few minutes after that, and the visitors thought they had secured the points with four minutes to go through Eamon Scannell’s corner but this was ruled out by the officials.

And it turned out to be a crucial decision when play restarted as Newington went straight down the other end and grabbed the equaliser through substitute Fiontan O’Boyle!

Meanwhile, at the Brandywell, Institute and Annagh United played out a scoreless draw.

Both sides had their chances. In the first half Ryan Swan sent the ball just the wrong side of the upper woodwork while, after the break, Mikhail Kennedy fired just over with the goal at his mercy from inside the six yard box.

Leaders Bangor kicked the weekend off with a Friday night defeat of Ballyclare Comrades at Clandeboye Park.

Ben Arthurs hit the only goal of the game when collected the ball in the box on 33 minutes, flicked it over his head and turned past three defenders before firing past Gerard Walker into the net.