- Extratime Team
- Sat, Mar 23 2024
Longford Town blew a 3-0 lead against rivals Athlone Town to slump to a draw at the Athlone Town Stadium.
Stephen Henderson's side shone during a sparkling first-half display before being pegged back by a spirited Athlone.
Adam Wixted gave the Red and Black a fourth minute lead, and Longford's lead was doubled just past the half hour mark when OIsin Hand nodded home from a corner-kick.
And a Jarlath Jones own-goal on the stroke of half-time looked to have all but ended the game as a contest.
But Longford disintegated following the resumption for Athlone to find a way back into the fixture.
Dean Ebbe - formerly of Longford Town - reduced the hosts' arrears on the hour, and he brought the deficit back to one just nine minutes later.
And another former Longford player Jamal Ibrahim completed the superb fightback with 15 minutes of normal time to play.
At that stage, Athlone looked to be the only side capable of winning - but they were stopped in their tracks with four minutes to play when Armado Oakley was dismissed with a second yellow card.
Athlone Town: Enda Minogue; Jarlath Jones, Daniel McKenna, Brian Torre, Noah van Geenen (Abdul Hassan Barrie 72); Rúben Candal (Oisin Duffy 88), Aaron Connolly, Jamal Ibrahim (Divine Izekor 79), Armado Oakley, Gideon Tetteh; Dean Ebbe.
Subs not used: Andrew Trainor, Matthew Leal, Shane Forbes, Roscoe Rubenstein, Wedu Batlokwa, Dylan Gavin.
Booked: Armado Oakley (33), Armado Oakley (86), Abdul Hassan Barrie (90).
Sent off: Armado Oakley (86).
Longford Town: Jack Brady; Shane Elworthy, Oisin Hand, Kyle O'Connor, Dean O'Shea; Conor Crowley, Bastien Héry, Luke Wade Slater, Adam Wixted; Karl Chambers (Guilherme Rego Priosti 88), Chris Lyons (Francis Campbell 77).
Subs not used: Jack McCarthy, Mohamed Boudiaf, Jordon Tallon, Ross Fay, Callum Bonner, Samuel Clarke, Vasyl Tropanets.
Booked: Bastien Héry (40), Karl Chambers (54), Chris Lyons (57), Francis Campbell (90).
Referee: Chris Sheehan.
