- Deniese O'Flaherty
- Sun, Apr 02 2017
Following their two previous defeats Longford Town picked up a much needed point at home to ten-man Waterford on Saturday night.
After a quiet first half from the home side they created plenty of chances in the second with David O’Sullivan unlucky not to find the back of the net on a number of occasions.
Waterford had opportunities in the first half but, after Davy McDaid was sent off for a tackle on Mark Langtry, the visitors were happy to soak up the pressure and come away with the point.
Town still await their first home win since October 2015 but this performance was a lot better than previous games and they can take a lot of positives out of their performance.
The visitors had a lively start and had the first effort on goal in the ninth minute as Shane O’Connor's ball across the box fell nicely to McDaid, but Paul Skinner did well to deny him.
Just before the half-hour, Skinner thwarted McDaid again and the ball was eventually deflected out for a corner.
In the 33rd minute, Waterford were awarded a penalty after Mark Langtry was adjudged to have fouled Mark O’Sullivan.
Whatever about the foul, it was outside the box, but despite Town’s protests O’Sullivan dusted himself up and took the spot-kick. Skinner pulled off an excellent save to keep his goal intact.
Kenny Browne headed over minutes later while McDaid should’ve done better after a poor kick from Skinner. Town didn’t create any clear-cut chances before the break with just a few crosses into the box.
Waterford were reduced to ten men after 56 minutes after McDaid went in hard on Langtry, who required stitches to the wound, and with numerical advantage Town took the game to Waterford.
Two minutes later David O’Sullivan somehow missed the target with the goal at his mercy. It was a let-off for Waterford.
Town kept pressing and from another corner Waterford broke with Kenny McEvoy racing to the endline. He took a shot but Dean Zambra got back to deflect the ball out.
Town created another chance with 15 minutes remaining but Patrick McClean cleared David O’Sullivan’s effort off the line.
Another chance went abegging for Town six minutes from the end. Tristan Noack Hofmann’s perfect cross into the box met the head of David O’Sullivan but he directed the ball over the bar.
Waterford could’ve been down to 9 men near the end after Mark O’Sullivan appeared to strike but the referee dished out a yellow card.
David O’Sullivan had the last chance for Town in the 90th minute but his powerful volley was deflected out for a corner.
The home side had to settle for a point while the visitors went back top of the table, level on points with Cobh Ramblers.
Longford Town: Paul Skinner; Aidan Friel, Stephen Walsh, Daniel O’Reilly, Mark Langtry (Tristan Noack-Hofmann 67); Don Cowan, Dean Zambra, Kevin O’Connor, Jake Kelly; Enda Curran (Dylan McGlade 86), David O’Sullivan.
Subs not used: Jack Brady, Cody Mulhall, Rhys Gorman, Gavin Boyne, Karl Chambers.
Booked: None.
Waterford: Ian McLoughlin; David Mulcahy, Kenny Browne, Patrick McClean, Derek Daly; Kenny McEvoy (Dean O’Halloran 86), Tom Smyth, Gary Comerford, Shane O’Connor; Mark O’Sullivan (Dean Walsh 90+2), Davy McDaid.
Subs not used: Matthew Connor (gk), Robin Dempsey, Conor Whittle, Gary Delaney, Anthony Mulcahy.
Booked: Mark O’Sullivan (88)
Sent off: Davy McDaid (56)
Referee: David Keeler.
Attendance: 401
Extratime Player of the Match: Dean Zambra (Longford Town).
