Longford Town boosted their First Division playoff hopes with a 2-1 victory over Cobh Ramblers as Dean Williams and Pharrell Manuel struck early before Shane Griffin’s late penalty set up a tense finish.
Longford Town 2
Cobh Ramblers 1
Cobh Ramblers came into the first game back after the midseason break in a good position, sitting in fourth after results on Friday night, knowing a win or draw would push them back up to third. Longford had the opportunity to leapfrog Wexford into fifth and a playoff place if the result went their way. ‘De Town’ came into the game on the back of a three one win over Treaty while the Rams had beaten Kerry 2 nil at home last time out. Previous results between the sides this season had seen Ramblers win in Longford and a goalless draw in Cobh.
Shane ‘Little Grif’ Griffin made his first start of the season for Cobh with Oran Crowe missing out. Dylan McGlade was only fit enough for the bench with Mikey Carroll returning to the Cobh midfield.
A lovely summer evening in Longford quickly turned sour for Ramblers as the Midlanders took the lead in the first minute of play. Clearly the midseason break had left the Rams a little rusty. After some good work by Pharrell Manuel on the Longford right the ball found Alex O’Brien on the edge of the box. His clever cross found Dean Williams at the back post who finished from close range. The Ramblers defence appealed for an offside in vain.
Longford’s bright start continued and in the 14th minute they went two ahead. Dean Williams broke on the left and squared a good ball to Pharrell Manuel who finished well from 10 yards for his first goal for Longford since joining from Lucan United. Two minutes later Longford cam close again as a Daragh Murtagh shot from distance went narrowly wide. Cobh manager Fran Rockett knowing that his side would now have to chase the game decided to change things early and brought a striker on in Rhy Kelly Noonan for a midfielder Jason Abbott.
Ramblers slowly clawed themselves into the game and created their first chance on 19 minutes as Curtin fed Le Bervet whose strike from the edge of the box flew past the right upright of Kian Moore’s goal. On 25 minutes Le Bevet, who was excellent for Cobh throughout, was again at the heart of the action as he made a good break down the Ramblers left. His cross found Waweru free in the box but his header from six yards lacked any power and Moore saved comfortably. It was Ramblers best chance of the first half and really should have halved the deficit.
With 5 minutes left in the half Osaze Irhue produced a great cross for Williams but his shot from the edge of the box lacked any power and was collected comfortably by Martin in the Ramblers goal. Three minutes later Shane ‘Little Grif’ Griffin placed a well struck free kick to the goalkeeper’s side from just outside the box but Moore saved well, tipping the ball away for a corner.
At half time Cian Coleman was brought on for Rhys Brennan. In the second half Ramblers continued to work hard without creating many meaningful chances. In the 53rd minute Longford’s Jamie Egan got on the end of a freekick into the box but his flicked header from six yards out was well saved by Martin.
On 68 minutes Lucas Curtin was withdrawn and replaced by Anthony Adenopo. Eight minutes later Adenopo was central to giving Ramblers a lifeline as he broke well on the right and played a good ball across the Longford box. Cobh forward Kia O’Neill, who had replaced the injured Rhys Gourdie on 72 minutes, and Alex O’Brien of Longford collided in an attempt to win the ball and referee Alan Patchell somewhat harshly pointed to the penalty spot. Shane ‘Little Grif’ Griffin made no mistake for his first goal of the season.
In the dying moments as Ramblers pushed for an equaliser substitute Stefan Ugbesia fed Daragh Murtagh on the edge of the box but his strike was straight at Timo Martin.
The win moves Longford up into the playoff places in fifth on 25 points. Ramblers are three points ahead of them in fourth.
Next up for Longford Town is a trip to face Bray Wanderers in the Carlisle ground while Cobh Ramblers face Finn Harps at home in St. Colemans Park.
Both games will be played on Friday 19th June.
Line Ups
Longford Town: Kian Moore, Osaze Irhue, Taylor McCarthy, Jamie Egan (Cole Omorehiomwan 81), Pharrell Manuel, Sean Moore (Sultan Adenekan 81), Alex O’Brien, Andy Paraschiv, Jake Hough; Dean Williams (Stefan Ugbesia 81), Daragh Murtagh.
Cobh Ramblers: Timothy Martin, Luka Le Bervet Bardsley, Breandán Frahill, Shane Griffin, Lucas Curtin (Anthony Adenopo 68), Rhys Gourdie (Kai O’Neill 72), Rhys Brennan (Cian Coleman 46), Jason Abbott (Rhys Kelly Noonan 18), Shane Griffin, Michael Carroll, Wilson Waweru.
Referee: Alan Patchell.