Limavady United produced their most dramatic result of the season, coming from two goals down to beat Ballymena United 3-2 at The Showgrounds in front of 566 fans.
The visitors looked firmly in control early on. Joshua Archer drilled home from 12 yards after Charlie Allen picked him out in the box to open the scoring on 11 minutes, and Ballymena doubled their lead four minutes later when Finley Thorndike reacted quickest to net the rebound after Marty Gallagher had parried Allen’s initial effort. Limavady gradually found their feet, Philip Lowry going close, before Jamie McGonigle halved the deficit in first-half stoppage time, racing through to lift the ball over David Walsh despite offside appeals from the visitors.
The comeback gathered pace immediately after the break. Substitute Jay Riley, on just five minutes earlier, collected a loose ball and unleashed a stunning 25-yard strike beyond Walsh to level the scores within a minute of the restart. Limavady completed the turnaround on 54 minutes when Philip Lowry dispossessed Daithi McCallion and calmly finished to put the Roesiders ahead for the first time.
Ballymena’s task of finding an equaliser was made harder when Stephen O’Donnell was sent off on 79 minutes following a tussle with Igor Rutkowski — the second red card for Limavady in as many games. The visitors piled on the pressure in a dramatic finale, with desperate goal-line defending denying both Rutkowski and James Hood, but Limavady held on for a famous win. Referee Christopher Morrison took charge of the match.
It’s a result that will live long in the memory at The Showgrounds — see the Match Centre for the latest fixtures, results and league table.