League Report: Longford Town 0 - 1 Cobh Ramblers

Deniese O’Flaherty reports from Bishopsgate

Cobh Ramblers kept their hopes of securing a play-off spot alive with a deserved win over Longford Town on Saturday night at Bishopsgate.

For the second time in the space of two weeks Longford Town fell to a disappointing home defeat.

Town were extremely poor and didn’t make Ramblers keeper Sean Barron work. Cobh Ramblers put in a fine team performance and could’ve had at least one goal in the first half.

The home side had the first chance with Dylan Hand’s header from a Shane Elworthy free was saved by Barron in the sixth minute.

Five minutes later and the home side were nearly caught when Naythan Coleman intercepted a poor backpass but Town keeper Lee Steacy did well to deflect the ball out for a corner.

Down the other end, Adam Evans put a decent cross into the box but it was deflected out for a corner.

Cobh didn’t clear the danger properly from that corner and Joe Manley picked up the ball but shot just wide.

The visitors very nearly took the lead in first half stoppage time when a free kick from Ian Turner hit the corner of the corner of the upright.

Three minutes into the second half, Ramblers broke the deadlock when Stephen O’Leary played a fine pass to Ian Turner and he made no mistake to shoot past Lee Steacy.

Despite having to chase the game Town couldn’t muster up anything to trouble Ramblers. Both sides enjoyed possession but chances were at a premium.

It all goes down to the final game of the season on Tuesday, October 27th, when Longford Town themselves need to pick up at least a point away to Wexford to guarantee a play-off spot.

Longford Town: Lee Steacy; Shane Elworthy, Mick McDonnell, Joe Manley (Joe Gorman 84), Karl Chambers (Callum Warfield 73); Dylan Hand (Niall Barnes 57); Adam Evans, Aodh Dervin, Matthew O’Brien, Dean Byrne; Rob Manley.

Subs not used: Luke Dennison, Ben Lynch, Dean Zambra, Lido Lotefa.

Booked: Aodh Dervin (19), Adam Evans (51), Mick McDonnell (73).

Cobh Ramblers: Sean Barron; John Kavanagh, Greg Henry, Charlie Lyons; Ian Turner, Pierce Phillips, Lee Devitt, Stephen O’Leary (Christopher O’Reilly 87), Daryl Walsh; Naythan Coleman (Dave Hurley 69), Conor Drinan.

Subs not used: Gavin Ryan, Ben O’Riordan, Cathal Crowley, Martin Coughlan.

Booked: Pierce Phillips (59).

Referee: Gavin Colfer (Wicklow).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Ian Turner (Cobh Ramblers).