Athlone Town keep season alive with derby win

Athlone Town 2 Longford Town 1

By John Dingle

Athlone Town retained the bragging rights in the Midlands derby when two first-half goals helped them to beat Longford Town last Friday night.

The home team opened the scoring early in the first half and after Longford had missed a penalty kick, doubled their lead before the half-time break. Athlone also missed from the penalty spot just before the hour mark and although Longford pulled a goal back late on, Sean O’Connor’s men held out to retain their unbeaten record in the Midlands derby this season.

Coming into the game, with fourth-placed Longford nine points ahead of Athlone on the league table, the hosts knew that it was imperative not to slip further behind in the chase for a place in the play-offs.

Longford did have the first chance when Alex O’Brien had a shot saved but Athlone opened the scoring from their first attack after 14 minutes. Brian McManus saw his effort blocked but the loose ball fell to William Smith on the right edge of the penalty area. The low strike went past the goalkeeper’s right, off the post and into the opposite corner of the net.

Longford responded with Dean Williams then firing over against his former club following a cross from the right.

Williams had a real opportunity to level matters just after the half hour mark when Longford were awarded a penalty kick. A long ball forward caught Jim Crawford the wrong side of Williams, whose heels were clipped. However, Williams spurned the opportunity when a hesitant run up was followed by a feeble effort which Brendan Clarke had little difficulty in stopping as he dived to his left.

It proved to be a costly miss as Athlone went further ahead from their next attack after 37 minutes. It was a fine solo effort from Gradi Lomboto who breezed past a couple of challenges as he cut inside from the left before shooting across the keeper to the far corner.

Longford offered little for the remainder of the half and Athlone had one further chance to score again but McManus saw his snapshot saved by Kian Moore who had been less than impressive between the posts for Longford.

When play resumed, it was Athlone that should have scored again early in the half. A counter attack saw Lomboto raid down the right. His pass to Smith however was poor allowing Longford to clear the danger.

McManus was again denied by the keeper after 54 minutes and the hosts had a great chance to kill off Longford’s challenge two minutes later when awarded a penalty. Taylor McCarthy fouled Smith and Peter Grogan stepped forward to take the resulting spot kick. Like the first one though, it was a feeble attempt asthe keeper easily made the save low to his right.

It should have sealed the victory but instead offered a glimmer of hope to Wayne Groves’ men. It continued to be a frustrating night for Williams against his former club with a goal bound effort blocked after 71 minutes.

The striker was soon taken off as Longford made a triple substitution in an attempt at getting back into contention in the closing stages. Instead. it was an earlier substitute who reduced the deficit after 77 minutes when Stefan Ugbesia fired in a low shot from the edge of the penalty box past Clarke to the net.

It made for an interesting ending to the contest with Longford pushing hard for an equaliser but Athlone also having chances of increasing their lead. Cillian Tollett had joined the action for the home team and had the opportunity to add to his goal tally after 83 minutes but saw his shot blocked.

As the game came to a conclusion, Athlone were hanging on as Daragh Murtagh rattled the side netting for Longford in the penultimate minute.

Cole Omorehiomwan had pushed forward from defence for the closing moments as Longford threw caution to the wind. It could have backfired though as substitute Callum Cleary on his return to action could have sealed victory for Athlone but fired over instead. Four additional minutes were indicated but Athlone held on to celebrate their first league win in four games when the final whistle sounded.

Man of the match: Aaron Connolly (Athlone Town). With the usual battles in midfield unfolding from a local derby, Connolly proved to be the ideal player to receive the ball when Athlone were under pressure as he effortlessly retained possession to frustrate the visitors.

Athlone Town: Brendan Clarke, Kyle O’Connor, Evan O’Connor, Sean Brennan, Jonathan Kehir, James Crawford, Brian McManus, Aaron Connolly, Peter Grogan, William Smith, Gradi Lomboto. Subs: Robert Lyons and Cillian Tollett for Grogan and Smith (70 mins); Callum Cleary for Lomboto (87).

Longford Town: Kian Moore, Dan McKenna, Taylor McCarthy, Cole Omorehiomwan, Daragh Murtagh, Alex O’Brien, Jake Hough, Sean Moore, Andy Paraschiv, Pharrell Manuel, Dean Williams. Subs: Stefan Ugbesia and James Bailey for McKenna and Manuel (60); Sultan Adenekan, Matthew Harris and Ronan Dawson for Williams, Paraschiv and S Moore (73).

Referee: Daryl Carolan (Louth).