- Andrew Dempsey
- Sat, Mar 27 2021
Andrew Dempsey reports from Dalymount Park
Newly promoted Longford Town secured a late, and great point away to Bohemians thanks to a brace from sub Conor Davis.
Davis replaced Dean Byrne after 70 minutes, and he would halve Longford’s deficit in the 75th minute with a stylish finish.
He would then strike again in the 85th minute, poking home at the back post after he was found by Callum Warfield’s low cross across the six-yard box.
Longford’s late heroics will come as a great disappointment to Bohemians who looked to be in control of the game until Longford’s opener.
It has been off-season of change at Bohemians despite their second placed league finish last season.
Bohs started with four new signings last week away to Finn Harps – but it was not enough as they crashed to defeat at Finn Park.
Newly promoted Longford on the other hand came into the game fresh from their convincing two-nil win at home to Derry City last week.
From that side that which played last week for Daire Doyle’s charges – there were no changes made from the victory over the Candystripes.
It was Bohs however who started off the better of the two teams, with Ross Tierney going closest early on, but his wayward effort was never troubling Town.
But Bohs would take the lead in the 20th minute as Georgie Kelly fired home from a Liam Burt cross.
Burt whipped a low cross into the Longford penalty area – where Kelly was on hand to convert on the turn.
And the hosts nearly made it two moments later, but Lee Steacy reacted well to smother what looked to be a certain goal from Burt.
However, the hosts would not be denied a second as Tierney made it two just before the half-hour mark.
The teenager turned and shot at the edge of the penalty area, leaving a scrambling Steacy with no chance.
It almost got worse for the visitors as Bohs skipper Keith Buckley blazed over the bar with his weaker left foot after Steacy parried a Kelly effort on goal.
After a sloppy start, Town grew into the game as the half neared its conclusion – but Byrne was denied by a strong James Talbot hand before the break.
And Longford continued to grow into the game as the second-half began – albeit without creating an awful lot.
Despite the positive play – the game was very nearly up before Longford had a chance to create a major chance as Kelly saw his shot crash off the butt of the post.
But then, Longford found some divine inspiration in the form of substitute Conor Davis who was called from the bench with just over 20 minutes to play.
The ex-UCD and Derry City forward danced around the Bohemians defence, leaving Robert Cornwall in his wake before firing home past Talbot from a tight angle.
Bohs – who were stung into life after the Longford opener – reacted with a flurry of chances themselves, albeit without creating anything clear-cut.
And their inability to create anything clear-cut proved to be to their detriment as Davis found himself free at the back post to poke home Callum Warfield’s cross across the penalty area.
The result now means that Longford are now in second position in the league table on four points, while Bohs are off the mark after their defeat away to Finn Harps last week.
Next for Longford is a home tie against Sligo Rovers, while Bohemians take on St Patrick’s Athletic in a Dublin Derby.
Bohemians: James Talbot; James Finnerty, Rory Feely, Rob Cornwall, Anto Breslin; Keith Ward (Dawson Devoy 77), Ross Tierney, Ali Coote (Bastien Hery 64), Liam Burt (Thomas Oluwa 77), Keith Buckley (c); Georgie Kelly.
Subs not used: Tyreke Wilson, Bradley Rolt, Jack Moylan, Stephen McGuinness, Andy Lyons, Ciaran Kelly.
Booked: Rory Feely (45), Keith Buckley (57).
Longford Town: Lee Steacy; Aaron O'Driscoll, Patrick Kirk, Joe Gorman, Karl Chambers (Aaron McNally 77); Dean Zambra (c), Dylan Grimes, Aodh Dervin, Dean Byrne (Conor Davis 70), Aaron Bolger (Aaron Dobbs 77); Sam Verdon (Callum Warfield 60).
Subs not used: Callum Thompson, Aaron Robinson, Joseph Manley, Michael Kelly, Shane Elworthy.
Referee: Derek Tomney.
ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Conor Davis (Longford Town).
