Athlone suffer another heavy defeat to Longford Town

ATHLONE Town fell to their second heavy defeat of the season to neighbours Longford Town when suffering a 3-0 loss at Flancare Park last Saturday. Even though Athlone defeated Longford in the first meeting of the side's back in April, courtesy of a Thomas McGauley header at Flancare Park, the memory of losing 5-2 at home at Lissywoollen in July would have still been fresh in supporters' minds going into last weekend's clash. But Athlone, despite having the bulk of possession in the opening half, found themselves a goal down after just six minutes and failed to get back in the contest. For Longford, a victory over Athlone all but ensured their first division status for next season with an emphatic 3-0 victory. The victory puts Longford ten points clear of bottom placed Kildare County, who lost 1-0 at home to fellow strugglers Mervue Utd, and with just five games remaining, the Station Road outfit look set for the promotion/relegation play-off against the highest finishing 'A' Championship side for the second consecutive year. Athlone, despite this defeat, are still one point ahead of both Longford and Mervue in the table, and they also have little relegation play-off fears at this stage. Athlone had the majority of possession in the first half and indeed created the better chances, but somehow, they found themselves one goal down at the interval. In the opening minute, a twenty-five yard strike from Robbie Benson from Gary Murphy's excellent pass was pushed around the post by Longford 'keeper Aaron Shanahan, who himself began the season with Athlone Town before getting released by Brendan Place. Five minutes later, Longford found the back of the visitors net when a Michael Lee throw from the left resulted in Brian McCarthy's backward header looping over the stranded Athlone 'keeper Barry Andrews to put the home side ahead. Two minutes later, Longford had an extremely lucky escape when Austin Skelly's six-yard header came back off the post with the Longford defence caught flat-footed. The home side had another lucky escape in the thirty-eighth minute. Athlone striker Andrei Georgescu waltzed his way through the Longford defence but his shot was brilliantly saved by Shanahan, and Georgescu's rebound effort was cleared off the line by Ray Kenny. A minute later, Longford striker Derek Glynn skipped past Athlone centre-back Stephen Place and whipped in a dangerous low cross into the visitors' penalty box only for the in-rushing Michael Lee to slice his shot high and wide. Both sides failed to create any real opportunities in the first fifteen minutes of the second half, but in the sixty-second minute a twelve yard shot from Athlone's Skelly produced a fine save from Shanahan in the Longford goal. The home side doubled their advantage with a cracking goal on 72 minutes. Longford substitute Adrian Murphy raced down the right and his low cross found Liam Lynch. It looked like Lynch would fire in a shot, but instead he cleverly stepped over the ball to allow the better positioned Gary Curran to rifle the ball to the roof of the Athlone net. Athlone should have pulled a goal back almost immediately when Gary Murphy's perfectly weighted right-wing cross floated over the stranded Longford 'keeper Shanahan to pick out Austin Skelly at the back post, but incredibly, Skelly somehow headed wide from just two yards out with the goal at his mercy. Athlone had plenty of the ball throughout but perhaps they missed the presence of striker Noel McGee, who netted a brace in Athlone's previous outing, a 2-0 victory over Wexford Youths. Longford sealed the victory with a superbly worked third goal in the eighty-ninth minute. McKenna cut in from the right and he pulled the ball back to Glynn, and although Athlone 'keeper Andrews dispossessed the diminutive striker, the ball came across to Adrian Murphy who gleefully blasted the ball to the roof of the Athlone net. With only five games remaining now, Athlone are next in action against Finn Harps at Lissywoollen on Friday evening (kick-off: 7.45pm). Longford Town: Aaron Shanahan; Ray Kenny, Brian McCarthy, Kevin Cronin, Jason McCartney, Liam Lynch, Michael Foley, Stephen Gough, Gary Curran, Michael Lee, Derek Glynn. Subs: Adrian Murphy for Lee (45 mins), Tom King for Foley (59), Darren McKenna for Lynch (77). Athlone Town: Barry Andrews; Robbie Hamm, Stephen Place, Des Hope, Kieran O'Reilly, Gary Murphy, Mark Salmon, Robbie Benson, Tom O'Halloran, Austin Skelly, Andrei Georgescu. Subs: Anthony Hayes for O'Reilly (76 mins); Kevin Horan for Skelly (87), Sean Brennan for Georgescu (89). Referee: Jim McKell (Tipperary).