Limavady United effectively retained their Premiership status with this victory, the second year in a row that they have won at New Grosvenor in the league.

The result did however put a dent in the Whites' aspirations for fourth place and the first half very much resembled an end of season game although United had the better chances.

Phil Matthews saved an angled shot from from Joe Gray in the fourth minute, before United number eleven, Gareth Harkin fired an effort wide.

The Whites' cause wasn't helped by the loss of Darren Armour (hamstring) on 36 minutes.Just before that, Sean Friars tested Matthews before his fellow striker Philip Lowry couldn't direct a header on goal on 40 minutes.

James Bell fired wided for the Whites in first half injury time, and that effort was as good as they gave in the first-half. Second half the Whites attacked more, Michael Doherty cleared a dangerous cross from Francis Murphy, John Martin curled an effort over but equally Limavady also went close.

Gray blasted the ball into the side netting, before Eamon Doherty headed wide from a corner on 57 minutes. A minute later the Whites almost got the breakthrough, Martin whipped the ball across the goal and Andrew Waterworth managed to stretch out his boot to get a touch and the ball thumped the bar and bounced to safety. On another day it would have gone in but it was not to be.

Andy Kilmartin was just yards wide from a header before the game was over on 81 minutes. United worked the ball down the left, it was sent diagonally in to the box and Michael Ferguson cut it out as an attacker waited at the back of the box.Luck, though, wasn't with the Whites' left-back, he lost his balance and fell and the ball ran straight to Eamon Doherty who netted.

There was no way back in the remaining nine minutes and an improvement will needed before the side travels to DC on Saturday.