Longford Town 1 - 1 Salthill Devon

After 29 league games this season Longford Town still haven’t found a way to stop conceding silly goals. On too many occasions the Town have gifted the opposition goals and that’s what happened again in a 1-1 with Salthill Devon at Flancare Park on Saturday night.

Leading 1-0 and in complete control of the game, the Town defence stood back and allowed Brian Gaffney to waltz his way into the box and lay the ball off to James Whelan who made no mistake in firing home a 58th minute equaliser.

Longford had over 30 minutes to get back into the game but they failed to create anything really of note. They did lay siege on the Salthill goal in the last few minutes but nothing came from it.

It was the home side who dominated possession in the first half but clear-cut chances were at a premium with Salthill keeper Ronan Burke not really tested in the opening 20 minutes. Thomas Hyland was the first to have a chance on goal but his weak effort was easily saved by Burke in the 24th minute.

Town very nearly opened the scoring in the 29th minute in a neat move involving the Skelly brothers. Sean played in Graham Dowling who in turn laid the ball of to Austin but his low drive was deflected out for a corner. But one minute later the Town did break the deadlock from another corner.

Keith Gillespie whipped the ball in from the left and Chris Deans’ glancing header found the back of the net; with the help of a Salthill defender. Two minutes from the break the visitors had a chance to get on level terms with their first chance of the game; Brian Gaffney’s free from the edge of the box brought a fine save out of Town keeper Alvin Rouse.

Four minutes after the resumption the Town had a chance to double their advantage; Alan McGreal’s cross from the right met the head of Thomas Crawley but he was unable to divert it past Burke in the Salthill goals.

Minutes later Gillespie did well to bring the ball down and take a shot but Burke brought off a fine save to deny the midfielder his first Town goal. It was all Town at this stage but in the 58th minute totally against the run of play the Town gifted Salthill an equaliser.

Austin Skelly was unlucky not to restore their lead in the 66th minute but his spectacular over-head kick just went narrowly wide. But then the game just went flat and it really was end of season stuff; it was hard to believe that the Town were pushing for a 5th place finish because they were playing like a side that were just going through the motions with nothing to play for.

Deans had a chance to get his second goal of the game in the 76th minute but his flashing header just went wide of the far post. With the clock ticking down the Town started to pile on the pressure but on a number of occasions were caught offside; a few of those were very questionable decisions.

In the second minute of additional time substitute Jean Biansumba very nearly got to the end of a Crawley shot/cross. The Town had been on the end of a few last minute winners in recent weeks but couldn’t find one themselves.

Longford Town: Alvin Rouse; Graham Dowling, Chris Deans, Jeff Flood

(Jean Biansumba 60), Gary Cronin; Alan McGreal (Jacques Morley 67), Keith

Gillespie, Thomas Hyland, Sean Skelly (Craig Walsh 77), Thomas

Crawley; Austin Skelly.

Salthill Devon: Ronan Burke; Colm Horgan, Phil Donnelly, Paddy

Quinlan, Cian Fadden, Luke McConnell (Brian Geraghty 79), Gerry

Dolan(Joe Gaughan 93), Eugene Greaney, James Whelan (Charlie Burke

82), Robbie Porter, Brian Gaffney.

Referee: Kevin O’Regan.