LIMAVADY United halted a run of two successive league defeats with this win against Larne at Inver Park.

The game wasn't as close as the score-line suggests with Larne grabbing goals as the Roesiders defence lost concentration late in the game.

Larne did miss a few other chances but Limavady United were always on top and thoroughly deserved all three points.

In fact every time the visitors went on the attack it looked as if they would score goals.

Lee Patrick and Gary Crossan scored in the space of two first half minutes before Lee Harkin further extended the visitors lead.

Gary Rafferty pulled a goal back before Ryan McIlmoyle fired home from the penalty spot. Bertie Fulton pulled another goal back before Rafferty grabbed his second of the game late in stoppage time.

The visitors showed their intent from the very start when McIlmoyle fired a shot wide in the just the second minute.

Ten minutes later Crossan was the provider for McIlmoyle but his scuffed shot was easily saved.

Limavady United almost took the lead in the 23rd minute. Patrick found Gareth Tommins in space inside the box but the teenagers shot was straight at the 'keeper.

Just two minutes later the Rathmore Road outfit did take the lead. With the home defence nowhere to be seen Patrick slammed the ball home at the back post from Lowry's free-kick.

They doubled their lead shortly after when Tommins crossed and Crossan nipped in, in front of the 'keeper, to flick the ball home.

Larne perhaps should have pulled a goal back in the 31st minute. Alan Reid evaded his marker before crossing for Vinny Sweeney. However the Ex-Roesider missed his kick inside the six yard box.

Seven minutes before the break United stepped up their pressure again and McIlmoyle whistled a shot narrowly wide.

Just before the break Marc Brown made a good run and crossed for Andrew Dickson but he failed to find the target with his header.

The second half started the same way as the first with the visitors on the attack. This time it was Gareth McConnachie whose free-kick was well saved.

Sweeney was again guilty of another miss in the 51st minute when he placed his header wide from Liam Hogan's cross.

It was to be Sweeney's day three minutes later either. Gary Thompson flashed the ball across the box and Sweeney again missed his kick from close range and somehow so did Rafferty at the back post.

Patrick almost grabbed his second of the game in the 60th minute. However his shot was inches wide from 25 yards.

In the 64th minute United broke with pace but were denied their third goal when Tommins shot was tipped wide by Brian Neeson in the home goal.

The third goal did come minutes later however. McIlmoyle split the home defence wide open with a wonderful ball and youngster Harkin fired the ball beyond Neeson.

McIlmoyle should have made it four in the 74th minute. Lowry's prefect pass enabled 'Macca' to beat the offside trap but in the end his shot was easily saved.

The Harbour Rats pulled a goal back three minutes later. Rafferty's shot somehow ended up in the far corner as 'keeper Dean McInness though the ball was going wide.

Only a minute later McIlmoyle was the provider but Harkin's volley was just wide of the far post.

With ten minutes left the fourth goal did come. Lowry was upended in the box by Anthony Lagan, who was sent off, and McIlmoyle made no mistake sending the 'keeper the wrong way to score from the spot.

In the 82nd minute the home side pulled another goal back when Fulton curled the ball into the far corner.

With five minutes left the visitors could have added a fifth but McIlmoyle's shot was somehow smothered by Neeson before being cleared to safety.

In the 87th minute Tommins released the scampering Harkin but his well struck shot was saved.

In a frantic finish Larne pulled another goal back in stoppage time when Rafferty scored but it was too little too late.