League Report: Longford Town 0 - 1 Sligo Rovers

David Wilson reports from Bishopsgate.

On a bright Good Friday evening, Sligo Rovers kicked off the Easter weekend by taking all three points away to a battling Longford side. Garry Buckley’s header just two minutes into the second half meant that Sligo go top until at least tomorrow evening.

The first ten minutes saw both teams fail to string any sort of passes together. Robbie McCourt drifted a free kick wide of Lee Steacy’s near post in the seventh minute after Aaron O’Driscoll was pinged for impeding Greg Bolger. 

The game began to find its flow and it was the away side who looked most likely to carve out the opener. Jordan Gibson has been a revelation so far for Liam Buckley’s side scampered down the right and squared a pass to Romeo Parkes. The Jamaican shot first time but scuffed his effort, when he really should have at least tested the ‘keeper in the 18th minute. 

The Bit o’ Red continued to string some passes together and in doing so pinned the opposition in their half. In the 20th minute Sligo worked a free kick which saw Niall Morahan find himself free at the back stick. The Leitrim man squared to Gibson who then found Buckley, but he could not find a finish. 

The next fifteen minutes were largely uneventful as Longford continued to go direct and failed to keep possession. Daire Doyle’s side were dealt a double injury blow as Callum Warfield and Dean Byrne were replaced by Aaron Dobbs and Callum Thompson. 

Just five minutes before the half, Steacy was called into action once more. Parkes pinned his man before rolling a pass to Kenny. Kenny tried to bend his effort into the far corner but Steacy tipped behind brilliantly.

Longford came closest just before the halftime whistle. A Paddy Kirk corner was delivered viciously to the near post where Parkes glanced a header inadvertently which just evaded the far post.

The second half started with much more tempo. Two minutes in Gibson forced a corner from Kirk. The resulting corner taken by the excellent Robbie McCourt was met by Parkes, but it was centre-half Buckley who reacted quickest nodding home from 4 yards to give Rovers the lead.

The home side were now summoned into action. Dylan Grimes twisted and turned down the right before standing up a cross, which was cleared only as far as Aodh Dervin, but he fired wide under pressure. 

Kirk whipped a corner right under McGinty’s crossbar, but the Irish under-21 international punched well to clear the danger in the 57th minute as the home side continued to drive forward. 

The game continued in its scrappy nature with the home side shading it. The defensive shape of Sligo was difficult to penetrate even with the introduction of last week’s goal hero for Longford in Conor Davis and Aaron McNally. 

In the 73rd minute there was a potential flash point as Parkes halved Kirk, however the Jamaican did win the ball but went into the referee’s book for being a little overzealous.

With just over ten minutes remaining Sligo broke forward in a counterattack. Parkes found Ryan De Vries who cut inside and shot when he perhaps should have found Mark Byrne down the left.

It looked like Sligo were going to be down to ten men when it appeared that Greg Bolger had brought down McNally. Referee Derek MacGraith thought differently and booked the winger for simulation luckily for Bolger. 

Dylan Grimes found the ball at his feet just eight yards out but could not settle his feet to get an effort on goal with just six minutes left. He set up Dervin instead, but his effort was partially blocked, and the ball squirmed beyond the far post. 

Substitute Walter Figueira had the ball in the net, but it was ruled out for offside as Sligo failed to find the killer goal. 

De Town continued pour everything forward, however they just could not find the equaliser.

A great three points for Rovers see them pick up seven out of nine. Longford will be disappointed with their first half performance, but they will be encouraged by their never say die attitude.

Longford Town: Lee Steacy (GK); Karl Chambers (Conor Davis 69), Joe Gorman, Aaron O’Driscoll, Paddy Kirk; Dean Zambra (C) (Aaron McNally 69), Aodh Dervin; Dylan Grimes, Aaron Bolger, Dean Byrne (Callum Thompson 30); Callum Warfield (Aaron Dobbs 36)

Unused substitutions: Michael Kelly (GK), Shane Elworthy, Aaron Robinson, Sam Verdon, Joe Manley 

Yellow card: None

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty (GK); Colm Horgan, John Mahon, Garry Buckley, Robbie McCourt; Niall Morahan, Greg Bolger; Jordan Gibson (Walter Figueira 83), David Cawley (C) (Mark Byrne 64), Romeo Parkes; Johnny Kenny (Ryan De Vries 74)

Unused substitutions: Richard Brush (GK); Danny Kane, Shane Blaney, Regan Donelon, Darren Collins, Scott Lynch

Yellow card: David Cawley (25), Greg Bolger (44), Romeo Parkes (73)

Attendance: 0

Referee: Damien MacGraith

Extratime.com man of the match: Garry Buckley (Sligo Rovers)

Becky Cassin: 'We can build on this now, and for future seasons.' https://t.co/neoXkgEZtjpic.twitter.com/4oaEXJNast

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) April 2, 2021