Longford Town 2 - 2 Mervue United

• Deniese O'Flaherty
• Sat, Sep 03 2011


Longford Town’s performances are beginning to become very repetitive; score, waste several chances and then concede soft goals. This is what happened again on Saturday night when they were held to a 2-2 draw against a depleted Mervue Utd side.

Credit to Johnny Glynn’s charges who battled hard in this game and worked hard to get a point after going 2-0 down and being under the cosh for the majority of the first half. Just four minutes had elapsed when the Town took the lead through Austin Skelly. The Dubliner grabbed his second in the 37th minute but one minute later and totally against the run of play Mervue pulled a goal back through Pat Hoban. Ten minutes after the break and Damien O’Rourke got their second.

It took the home side only four minutes to break the deadlock; Thomas Crawley whipped in a cross from the right and Austin Skelly slotted the ball home from close range.

The home side took control of proceedings but for all their possession they failed to add to Skelly’s opener. Craig Walsh had a chance to double his side’s advantage in the 20th minute but he blasted his effort over the bar from about 25 yards out.

Daniel Purdy should’ve grabbed his first goal for the club in the 30th minute. Skelly played a neat ball to his striker partner but Mervue goalkeeper Ger Hanley pulled off a fine save. The loose ball fell to Purdy but he was hesitant and tried to play the ball back to Skelly but it was cleared by the Mervue defence.

Two minutes later and Skelly had an opportunity to grab his second of the game but his low drive went just over. After being outplayed for all of the opening half the visitors had a glorious opportunity to level matters in the 33rd minute but Etanda Nkololo dragged his low drive just inches wide with Town keeper Alvin Rouse beaten.

In the space of a minute the Town doubled their advantage and then conceded a goal. Skelly got his second of the game in the 37th minute directing Purdy’s cross into the net with a stunning overhead kick.

Then, Mervue broke down the field and forced a corner. Nkololo took the kick and it was headed home by the unmarked Pat Hoban. Cathal Brady had a chance to restore the Town’s two goal advantage just before the break but Mervue keeper Ger Hanley pulled off a fine save.

The Town were to rue not putting away their chances in the first half because 10 minutes after the resumption Mervue were back on level terms; goal-scorer Hoban turned provider for Damien O’Rourke to claim Mervue’s 100th league goal.

Town had the better of the chances in a dismal second half but failed to really trouble Hanley in the Mervue goals. It’s two points dropped by the Town and a welcomed point for Mervue.

Longford Town: Alvin Rouse; Graham Dowling, Chris Deans, Des Hope, Mike Lee; Cathal Brady, Mark Salmon, Craig Walsh (James O’Brien 77), Thomas Crawley (Alan McGreal 64); Daniel Purdy, Austin Skelly (Jean Biansumba 64).
Subs not used: Thomas Hyland, Jack Morley, Darragh Satelle, Paul Hunt.
Bookings: Lee (63).

Mervue United: Ger Hanley; Dave O’Brien, Martin Connelly, Damien O’Rourke, Kenny Farrell; Alex Lee, Noel Varley, John Mountney, Pat Hoban; Etanda Nkololo, Dave Goldbrey.
Subs not used: Ian Bately, Daniel Tully, Mike Elwood, Dan Cunningham, Paul Lawless, Cillian Murphy.
Bookings: Nkololo (20), Hoban (39), Varley (57), O’Brien (90).

Referee: Conor Fitzgerald.
extratime.ie Man of the Match: Cathal Brady (Longford Town).