Longford Town 1 - 2 Kldare County
Credit:
A combination of bad defending from the home side and some fine finishing from striker Philip Hughes earned bottom side Kildare County a vital win over Longford Town last night. They are now seven points behind both Mervue United and Gareth Cronin's side.
Hughes got the winner four minutes from time to claim his fourth goal in three games. The goal came against the run of play after the home side had dominated proceedings after the break.
Derek Glynn had brought Town level ten minutes after the restart with a superb strike from just inside the box. Thoroughbreds 'keeper Darren Kelly then kept his side in the game, denying both Michael Lee and Liam Lynch.
The smallest crowd of the season at Flancare Park had to endure a rather dull and drab contest that failed to really liven up. It was certainly a game of two halves; the first dominated by the visitors while the home side controlled matters after the break.
Hughes was a threat throughout and the striker had the first chance on goal in the fourth minute but his long range effort went wide.
One minute later Longford should have opened the scoring; Adrian Murphy put in a pinpoint cross from the right into the box, it fell to Michael Lee who amazingly shot inches wide from close range with the goal at his mercy. A bad miss for the home side and a let off for the visitors.
We had to wait nearly ten minutes for the next goal chance; Derek Glynn broke into the box and forced Kelly into making a decent save.
That was to be Longford’s last effort on goal in the half as Kildare started to take control of proceedings. In the 19th minute Hughes had another chance but he failed to hit the target from just inside the box.
The next chance of the half fell to County's Trevor Bowers in the 33rd minute; the striker found himself in space to shoot but Danny O’Leary brought off an excellent save to keep the game scoreless.
For all their possession it was always going to be a matter of time before the visitors opened the scoring and four minutes from the break they did just that; bad defending from Ray Kenny and Jason McCartney allowed Hughes through and he made no mistake, shooting past O’Leary.
Ten minutes after the restart the home side were back on level terms; centre-half Brian McCarthy with the flick on and Derek Glynn with a cracking strike - his third goal in as many games.
The second half was in complete contrast to the first for the home side as they enjoyed the majority of the ball. Seven minutes after their equaliser they had a great chance to take the lead. Murphy played an excellent ball into the box which met the head of Lee but his superb effort was acrobatically tipped over by Kelly.
For the next quarter of an hour there was a lull in the game with neither side doing anything of note. We had to wait until the 74th minute for the next effort on goal but Kelly once again came to his side’s rescue saving from Liam Lynch.
As the game entered its' final minutes it looked like Longford would hold out for the point that would move them above their midland rivals Athlone Town into ninth spot but, four minutes from time, Hughes struck. Bowers pass eluded the Town defence, and the ball fell to Hughes who coolly slotted past O’Leary for his second of the night and an important second for his side.
Longford Town: Danny O’Leary, Ray Kenny, Brian McCarthy, Kevin Cronin, Jason McCartney, Michael Lee, Stephen Gough, Carmine Russo (Gary Curran, 89), Adrian Murphy (Tom King, 78), Derek Glynn, Darren McKenna (Liam Lynch, 43).
Subs not used: Jordan McMillan, Aaron Shanahan.
Yellow cards: Russo and McCarthy.
Kildare County: Darren Kelly, Colm Daly, Christy Doran, Liam Tiernan, Babba Issaka, Darren O’Brien (Gavin Kinsella, 87), David Jackson, Orrin Farrell (Sean Geoghegan, 76), Cathal Brady (Craig Purcell, 81), Philip Hughes, Trevor Bowers.
Subs not used: David Long, Eoin Powderly.
Referee: Darren Coombes (Dublin)
Attendance: 150. (approx)
Extratime Man of the Match: Philip Hughes (Kildare County): A brace from the striker gave his side an important three points as they strive to avoid finishing bottom of the First Division.
Hughes got the winner four minutes from time to claim his fourth goal in three games. The goal came against the run of play after the home side had dominated proceedings after the break.
Derek Glynn had brought Town level ten minutes after the restart with a superb strike from just inside the box. Thoroughbreds 'keeper Darren Kelly then kept his side in the game, denying both Michael Lee and Liam Lynch.
The smallest crowd of the season at Flancare Park had to endure a rather dull and drab contest that failed to really liven up. It was certainly a game of two halves; the first dominated by the visitors while the home side controlled matters after the break.
Hughes was a threat throughout and the striker had the first chance on goal in the fourth minute but his long range effort went wide.
One minute later Longford should have opened the scoring; Adrian Murphy put in a pinpoint cross from the right into the box, it fell to Michael Lee who amazingly shot inches wide from close range with the goal at his mercy. A bad miss for the home side and a let off for the visitors.
We had to wait nearly ten minutes for the next goal chance; Derek Glynn broke into the box and forced Kelly into making a decent save.
That was to be Longford’s last effort on goal in the half as Kildare started to take control of proceedings. In the 19th minute Hughes had another chance but he failed to hit the target from just inside the box.
The next chance of the half fell to County's Trevor Bowers in the 33rd minute; the striker found himself in space to shoot but Danny O’Leary brought off an excellent save to keep the game scoreless.
For all their possession it was always going to be a matter of time before the visitors opened the scoring and four minutes from the break they did just that; bad defending from Ray Kenny and Jason McCartney allowed Hughes through and he made no mistake, shooting past O’Leary.
Ten minutes after the restart the home side were back on level terms; centre-half Brian McCarthy with the flick on and Derek Glynn with a cracking strike - his third goal in as many games.
The second half was in complete contrast to the first for the home side as they enjoyed the majority of the ball. Seven minutes after their equaliser they had a great chance to take the lead. Murphy played an excellent ball into the box which met the head of Lee but his superb effort was acrobatically tipped over by Kelly.
For the next quarter of an hour there was a lull in the game with neither side doing anything of note. We had to wait until the 74th minute for the next effort on goal but Kelly once again came to his side’s rescue saving from Liam Lynch.
As the game entered its' final minutes it looked like Longford would hold out for the point that would move them above their midland rivals Athlone Town into ninth spot but, four minutes from time, Hughes struck. Bowers pass eluded the Town defence, and the ball fell to Hughes who coolly slotted past O’Leary for his second of the night and an important second for his side.
Longford Town: Danny O’Leary, Ray Kenny, Brian McCarthy, Kevin Cronin, Jason McCartney, Michael Lee, Stephen Gough, Carmine Russo (Gary Curran, 89), Adrian Murphy (Tom King, 78), Derek Glynn, Darren McKenna (Liam Lynch, 43).
Subs not used: Jordan McMillan, Aaron Shanahan.
Yellow cards: Russo and McCarthy.
Kildare County: Darren Kelly, Colm Daly, Christy Doran, Liam Tiernan, Babba Issaka, Darren O’Brien (Gavin Kinsella, 87), David Jackson, Orrin Farrell (Sean Geoghegan, 76), Cathal Brady (Craig Purcell, 81), Philip Hughes, Trevor Bowers.
Subs not used: David Long, Eoin Powderly.
Referee: Darren Coombes (Dublin)
Attendance: 150. (approx)
Extratime Man of the Match: Philip Hughes (Kildare County): A brace from the striker gave his side an important three points as they strive to avoid finishing bottom of the First Division.
