Skelly frustrated at dropped points
Credit:
Longford Town striker Austin Skelly had mixed feelings about his
side’s 2-2 draw with Mervue United on Saturday night. Skelly grabbed a
brace as the Town squandered a 2-0 lead and were held by a very much
depleted Mervue side.
Skelly was delighted to be on target but was disappointed that Longford allowed Mervue back into the game. One minute after the striker had put his side 2-0 up they conceded a rather soft goal to allow the Galway side back into the game.
“Once you score a goal you can’t concede straight after it,” Skelly told extratime.ie. “When you concede two goals at home you have to get three to win. You have to defend better for set pieces and all round. I thought we did defend well but it was set pieces and losing men. It’s just frustrating especially for me because when you score two goals you expect to win. We’ll have to work on it.”
It has been a frustrating season for the striker who has been dogged by injuries but on Saturday night he showed just what he can do. His first goal was a simple shot from close range but his second was a stunning overhead kick. Getting on the scoresheet pleased Skelly. “I was just delighted to score. Obviously with the injuries it has been stop-start for me all season. I really did celebrate those two goals. I’d like to have got the hat-trick.”
Not long after Mervue equalised Town manager Tony Cousins bizarrely took Skelly off. It was a strange decision because the Town needed a goal and the striker was the type of player that could get that elusive third; he was really up for it due to the fact he was on a hat-trick. Although disappointed not to have stayed on Skelly accepted his manager’s decision.
“I wasn’t injured or anything, I think Tony just wanted to give other lads a run. I had no problem with that, that’s the manager’s decision but if I was on the pitch I feel I would’ve scored another goal.”
Longford now have to try and put this result behind them as they prepare for a tough away game against promotion chasing Limerick on Friday night. Skelly admitted it would’ve been good to get a win ahead of the trip to Jackman Park.
“It would’ve been nice picking up the three points going into the Limerick game on Friday. That is going to be a tough one. It is two points dropped for us. They’re not a bad side though. But when you are home and 2-0 up you have to see out the game,” said the striker.
Skelly was delighted to be on target but was disappointed that Longford allowed Mervue back into the game. One minute after the striker had put his side 2-0 up they conceded a rather soft goal to allow the Galway side back into the game.
“Once you score a goal you can’t concede straight after it,” Skelly told extratime.ie. “When you concede two goals at home you have to get three to win. You have to defend better for set pieces and all round. I thought we did defend well but it was set pieces and losing men. It’s just frustrating especially for me because when you score two goals you expect to win. We’ll have to work on it.”
It has been a frustrating season for the striker who has been dogged by injuries but on Saturday night he showed just what he can do. His first goal was a simple shot from close range but his second was a stunning overhead kick. Getting on the scoresheet pleased Skelly. “I was just delighted to score. Obviously with the injuries it has been stop-start for me all season. I really did celebrate those two goals. I’d like to have got the hat-trick.”
Not long after Mervue equalised Town manager Tony Cousins bizarrely took Skelly off. It was a strange decision because the Town needed a goal and the striker was the type of player that could get that elusive third; he was really up for it due to the fact he was on a hat-trick. Although disappointed not to have stayed on Skelly accepted his manager’s decision.
“I wasn’t injured or anything, I think Tony just wanted to give other lads a run. I had no problem with that, that’s the manager’s decision but if I was on the pitch I feel I would’ve scored another goal.”
Longford now have to try and put this result behind them as they prepare for a tough away game against promotion chasing Limerick on Friday night. Skelly admitted it would’ve been good to get a win ahead of the trip to Jackman Park.
“It would’ve been nice picking up the three points going into the Limerick game on Friday. That is going to be a tough one. It is two points dropped for us. They’re not a bad side though. But when you are home and 2-0 up you have to see out the game,” said the striker.
