Town bounce back as McGee brace wins midland derby

Seven days after slumping to their biggest ever home defeat, Athlone Town bounced back in positive fashion when they beat near neighbours Longford Town by two goals to nil at Flancare Park on Saturday night last. In the final Midlands derby of 2011, an early goal from Noel McGee restored Athlone's confidence and when home goalkeeper Paul Hunt was dismissed after 18 minutes, the resulting penalty kick from McGee handed the visitors what looked like a winning lead. However, in spite of having ten men for well over an hour, Longford fought back in the second half and might have earned a share of the spoils had Thomas Crawley not fired wide of an open goal and then hit the crossbar in a dramatic stoppage time period. Longford had the first chance of the game after five minutes when Mark Salmon's free kick was headed behind by Paul Danaher for the first corner kick of the game, with Des Hope then shooting wide from Jacques Morley's flag pole delivery. A minute later, however, in their first attack Athlone took the lead when top scorer Noel McGee tapped in from close range following Kevin Williamson's low cross from the left. Home keeper Hunt did get a touch on the shot but was unable to prevent the ball from crossing the line as Athlone quickly forgot about the drubbing from Cork City. McGee's inclusion up front was one of four changes to the side thrashed by the Leesiders as Jamie Carr and Declan Fallon returned to fill the full back berths, with young Roy King getting his chance in midfield. Damien Rushe earned Athlone's first corner kick as the bright opening continued. The turning point in the game arrived after 18 minutes when Hunt was dismissed after McGee was fouled inside the penalty area. It was a controversial decision by referee Keith Callanan who appeared to send off the wrong man as central defender Jeff Flood committed the initial foul, but Athlone were not complaining when the match official pointed to the penalty spot. Outfield player Daniel Purdy was sacrificed as reserve keeper Noel Cullen joined the action and the young replacement's first duty was to pick the ball out of the net as McGee fired the spotkick low to the keeper's right for his fifth goal of the season. The next action saw Cullen punch away a Jason Hughes right wing cross while McGee, now in pursuit of his hat-trick, shot wide after getting on the end of a long ball forward. After conceding seven the week before, the Athlone defence was intent on keeping a clean sheet this time and Danaher did well to block behind a Morley strike, with two former Athlone players then featuring as Des Hope's header from Salmon's corner kick was cleared. King had the visitor's last chance of the half when his shot was saved but Athlone headed off for the half time break confident in the knowledge that they were two goals to the good and with a numerical superiority for the second 45 minutes. The second half was dominated for long periods by Longford as Athlone decided to try and hold onto what they had by defending in depth but they made hard work of securing the victory at times. It was a tactic that threatened to haunt the visitors with Tony Cousins' side somewhat unlucky not to have grabbed a share of the spoils such was the chances they created. Two minutes after the restart, the home revival almost kicked into life when Salmon's free kick was pushed around the post by Michael Schlingermann. From the resulting corner kick, half-time substitute Crawley was unlucky to see his headed effort cleared off the goal line. Five minutes later, referee Callanan was again subject to abuse from home supporters when he turned down penalty appeals which on another day might have went Longford's way. Athlone were content to soak up the home pressure and the next chance came midway through the half when Hope's header was saved by Schlingermann. On 72 minutes, Longford should have reduced the deficit when they missed an open goal after the Athlone defence got into a tangle on the edge of the penalty area. Mark Walshe's back header was missed by the advancing Schlingermann but Crawley, faced with an open goal, fired into the side netting from a tight angle on the right edge of the six yard box. Athlone were seldom seen as an attacking force during the second half and earned the first corner kick of the half with 12 minutes left thanks to Williamson. The Athlone captain took the corner and although Cullen flapped at the ball, Walshe was unable to take advantage as he headed over, picking up an injury in the process as Cullen recovered to challenge for the loose ball. As full-time approached, Athlone still held onto their two goal lead mainly due to the fact that they kept most of their players behind the ball and invited ten man Longford to try and break down a massed defence. The last change by manager Mike Kerley saw Tommy Barrett replace McGee as the Athlone boss continued to persist with just one player up front, utilising the substitute as lone attacker. The final home chance in normal time saw Thomas Hyland fire wide from the edge of the penalty area after the ball was played in from the right. Four minutes of additional time were indicated and Athlone desperately hung on as Longford staged a grandstand finish which should have yielded a consolation score. In the second minute of time added on, the woodwork rescued Kerley's side as Longford threw caution to the wind. Craig Walsh floated in a cross from the left but Crawley was denied a goal when his header crashed off the bar with Athlone mightily relieved to at last hear the final whistle which sounded soon afterwards. LONGFORD TOWN: Paul Hunt, Thomas Hyland, Graham Dowling (Craig Walsh, 63 mins), Des Hope, Jeff Flood, James O'Brien, Cathal Brady, Mark Salmon, Jean Biansumba, Daniel Purdy (Noel Cullen, 19), Jacques Morley (Thomas Crawley, h-t). ATHLONE TOWN: Michael Schlingermann, Declan Fallon, Jamie Carr, Mark Walshe, Paul Danaher, Roy King (Davy Ryan, 55 mins), Damien Rushe (Eoin Monaghan, 70), Stephen Relihan, Kevin Williamson, Jason Hughes, Noel McGee (Tommy Barrett, 77). REFEREE: Keith Callanan (Cork).