Irish League manager's full focus on 'writing our own story' after taking step closer to promotion dream
Limavady United manager Paul Owens insists his side’s full focus remains on “writing our own story” after moving three points clear at the Championship’s summit.
Two years after celebrating Premier Intermediate League title glory, the Roesiders are on track to seal a return to Northern Ireland’s top-flight.
After nearest rivals Annagh United were beaten by Newington on Friday night, Limavady took full advantage as John Butcher struck a decisive goal in Saturday’s 1-0 triumph at Loughgall.
It means Limavady now sit three points ahead of Annagh in the race for automatic promotion – the pair are almost guaranteed to finish in the top-two with third-placed H&W Welders 12 points adrift with four matches left to play.
Limavady welcome the Welders to the Coleraine Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon, and despite their promising position, Owens insists nobody will be getting carried away.
"We're not (looking further than the next game),” he said on BBC Sportsound. “As satisfying as that (Annagh) result was and it did give the players a wee lift, the message from us was that it changes absolutely nothing for us.
"If we had slipped up we would have been in the same position, so we had to capitalise.
"We just keep preaching to the players and talking the distractions away by writing our own story and if we're going to be fortunate enough to win the league, we want to win it in style like we did in the PIL. It puts us one step closer to where we want to finish."
Only Annagh (28) have conceded fewer league goals this term than Limavady (32) and Owens heaped praise on his defensive unit.
"Clean sheets are brilliant,” he added. “I think that's our 13th of the season and we jumped above Annagh.
"We're built on trying to play attacking football but our defence has been really good. We've really tidied it up over the last few months and it has helped give us a foothold.
"We knew how big the (Loughgall) game was...it felt like a massive one.
"The profile of player we have and the football we try to play, it's a difficult venue, a tight pitch which had a bit of damage with the recent weather, so to get a 1-0 victory was hugely satisfying.”