Limavady United were on the wrong end of a late Crusaders surge at the Showgrounds, where a closely fought afternoon was settled by three goals in the final stages.
There was little to separate the sides in an entertaining first half. Tiarnan Boorman headed over from close range and later saw another effort clip the crossbar from a Lewis Tosh corner. At the other end, Elliot Dunlop tested Marty Gallagher, and Daniel Lafferty made an important clearance off the line to deny Harry Jewitt-White.
The breakthrough came six minutes after the restart. Jewitt-White laid the ball into the path of Dunlop, who drove a low shot into the far corner. The Roesiders pushed for an equaliser and came agonisingly close when substitute Oisin Duffy struck the post, before a goalmouth scramble saw John Butcher and Philip Lowry unable to convert a Lafferty delivery.
Crusaders then took control. Owen Wardell doubled the lead on 82 minutes with a superb curling finish into the top corner. Duffy gave the home fans hope three minutes later with a fine strike from outside the box, but Donal Rocks restored the two-goal advantage with a spectacular 25-yard effort on 88 minutes. Dunlop added his second in stoppage time to complete the scoring.
Ben McMaster was the referee. It’s a disappointing result, but the Roesiders have a quick chance to respond with a trip to Dungannon Swifts next Saturday. See the Match Centre for the latest fixtures, results and league table.