- Andrew Dempsey
- Sat, Aug 26 2017
Longford Town battled past a very game and tough Bangor Celtic to progress to the quarter-finals of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup as Don Cowan popped up with a 71st minute winner.
Longford goalkeeper Jack Brady started his fourth competitive game in a row and was to prove key in Town's resistance at the end of the game.
Town started off well and were well on top by the time they could and should have taken the lead.
After a previous close shave for Stephen Conlon in the Bangor goal from Jake Kelly's corner kick, a second delivery saw defender Daniel O'Reilly hit the bar after getting his head onto a Tristan Noack-Hoffmann flick-on.
David O'Sullivan had a great opportunity to put the Red and Black ahead with a very well worked move but glanced his header inches wide of the Leinster Senior League sides goal.
Alan Kehoe was looking lively making some good runs helping out his teammates who were being pressed by their tough-tackling opposition.
The Midlanders looked to be well on top and should have taken the lead after Sam Verdon tapped in from a Davy O'Sullivan flick on after a set piece routine, however Verdon was offside and the sides went in level at the break.
The sides re emerged for the second half and Bangor looked to be a far different proposition with Celtic looking far more dangerous than they did in the first.
Despite the fact that Bangor looked to be a different team, Longford had some opportunities to grab an opener with Zambra smashing an effort well over the bar and Verdon heading an Aidan Friel cross wide.
Bangor fired an effort at Jack Brady's rearguard but Brady, whose influence was growing in the game, was equal to it.
Just a mere five minutes after Don Cowan's introduction, he opened the scoring with a brilliant solo goal.
After taking a fantastic Daniel O'Reilly crossfield ball down from the air, Cowan dribbled his way past at least 4 Bangor Celtic players before sliding the ball past the Celtic goalkeeper.
Bangor looked to hit back immediately and they very nearly did through a mix up in the Longford box following a set piece delivery, but the ball squirmed wide in the confusion.
After some good play on the fringes of the Longford Town by Bangor Celtic, they very nearly grabbed an equaliser but were denied by an incredible Brady save who looked to have dived past the strike before preventing the ball from going in the back of the net. One highlight to keep an eye out for on Soccer Republic on Monday night.
Bangor did not let the goalkeeper's heroics prevent them from searching for a leveller and went close again through another mix up in the Town defence.
As the final whistle loomed large, Bangor certainly had opportunities but were unable to find the back of the net as a previously more adventurous Longford became more defensively-minded while also taking their time whenever possible.
The final whistle was blown by referee Eoghan O'Shea to the delight and relief of the sizable Longford Town travelling contingent.
Town progressed and are in the hat for the Quarter Finals of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup while Bangor Celtic have a lot to look forward to ahead of their new campaign in waiting.
Bangor Celtic: Stephen Conlon; Stephen Philips, Cian Fadden, Mark Keeley, Baba Ndiaye (Andrew Dunne 49); Caleb Murray, Laurence Dunne, Michael Fox (Luke Synott 73), Ronan Byrne, Aaron Coleman; Graham Zambra.
Subs not used: Younas Moulmelh, Michael O'Connor, Sean Traynor, Luke Fitzgibbon, Pierce Brelazzi.
Longford Town: Jack Brady; Aidan Friel, Noel Haverty, Daniel O'Reilly, Tristan Noack-Hoffmann; Dean Zambra, Sam Verdon, Jake Kelly, Alan Kehoe (Kealan Dillon); Jake Chambers (Don Cowan 66), David O'Sullivan.
Subs not used: Adam Kenny, Rhys Gorman, Paul Finnegan, Jamie Mulhall, Cian Byrne.
Referee: Eoghan O Shea.
Attendance: 300 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Alan Kehoe (Longford Town).
