Longford Town 2 - 1 Athlone Town

• Deniese O'Flaherty
• Sat, Jul 17 2010


Longford Town recorded their first win of the season over their midlands rivals with a well deserved win at Flancare Park on Saturday night.

This win now moves Longford ahead of Athlone in the table. It also puts pressure on Athlone manager Brendan Place after they fell to their third defeat in a row.

The first half was one of the worst 45 minutes of football witnessed in Flancare Park in a long while. It was definitely far from ‘El Grand Classico’; more like a pre-season game than a local derby.

Chances were at a premium during the opening half. After conceding 11 goals in their previous three games Athlone were set up very defence minded. It was a case of trying to soak up the pressure and catch Longford on the break. They didn’t really have much to soak up though as Longford were poor in front of goal.

In the 16th minute John Lester’s free-kick from about 30 yards out was deflected out for a corner. Minutes later Athlone had a half effort; first Dean Marshall’s overhead kick was deflected for a corner by Longford defender Chris Deans. From the resultant corner former Longford player Ryan McEvoy tried his luck but it was cleared by John Lester.

Peter Hynes should really have done better in the 25th minute but instead of shooting first time he took much out of the ball and then decided to throw himself to the ground. Referee Phil Caschera wasn’t to be fooled and he booked the Longford striker for diving.

That was the first real incident of note in a dour and drab first half. Nine minutes before the break came the first real attempt on goal; Cathal Brady’s cross from the right met the head of Hynes but his effort just went inches over.

In the last three minutes of the half the game livened up. In the 42nd Athlone had their first chance on goal but Austin Skelly’s header from Kieran Maloney’s cross just grazed the crossbar and went wide.

Right on the stroke of half-time the home side were awarded a penalty after Maloney brought down defender Niall O’Reilly in the box. John Lester stepped up to take the spot-kick and he duly dispatched it past Athlone keeper Michael Schlingermann.

Longford doubled their advantage 14 minutes after the break. Mark Salmon’s powerful drive was parried by Schlingermann and Victor Ekanem was on hand to stab the ball home from close range. It was his second goal in two games.

Against the run of play Athlone pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute; Austin Skelly got on to the end of McEvoy’s free-kick to head past Longford keeper Aaron Shanahan. It was now all to play for. Skelly though was to leave the game early ten minutes after that goal when he received his second yellow of the game.

Athlone pressed hard for an equaliser and in the last minute of normal time had a glorious chance to get their second; McEvoy sent in another pinpoint cross which was first missed by Eoghan O’Shea at the near post and then Brian McCarthy at the far post.

Longford Town: Shanahan, O’Reilly, Deans, Lester, Lee, Brady, Ekanem, Hyland, Salmon, Roche, Hynes.
Sub: Cowan for Roche 57 mins, G Cronin for Ekanem 80mins.

Athlone Town: Schlingermann, Scullion, O’Shea, Hope, McCarthy, Relihan, Marshall, Maloney, Skelly, McEvoy, Hughes
Sub: O’Hanlon for Maloney 66mins, Williamson for Relihan 88mins

Referee: P Caschera (Dublin)
extratime man of the match: John Lester (Longford Town)