Longford Town blow glorious chance of a first win in a dramatic draw away to Athlone

Athlone Town . . . 3   Longford Town . . . 3

Longford Town collected their first point of the season in the SSE Airtricity League First Division but blew a glorious chance of a win after they surrendered a three goal half-time lead at the Athlone Town stadium on Friday night. 

The revitalised home side staged a remarkable revival in a dramatic draw with three goals in a magic 15 minute spell after the hour mark and were denied a winner when a shot from Dean Ebbe hit the post in the 82nd minute.

Athlone overcame the handicap of playing the closing stages of this action packed midlands derby with ten men after Armado Oakley was sent-off for a second yellow card and stunned Longford Town have little time to recover with the rearranged fixture against Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle grounds on Monday night, kick-off 7.45pm.   

The visitors got off to the best possible start against Athlone with the opening goal after just 4 minutes of play. Bastien Hery sent in a cross from the right which picked out Adam Wixted on the edge of the penalty area and the finish was top class as the ball flew into the net. 

Longford earned the first corner kick after 17 minutes and Dean O’Shea came close to doubling the lead moments later but just failed to connect with a cross at the far post. 

Athlone came more into the game midway through the first half but Longford keeper Jack Brady was solid as he twice saved efforts from Gideon Tetteh. 

Oakley then sent an inviting right wing cross wide but the Athlone resurgence soon faded. Luke Wade Slater saw his shot pushed up in the air and gathered at the second attempt by Enda Minogue but the respite for the home side was brief. 

A second corner after 34 minutes saw Stephen Henderson’s side  double their lead. The delivery from Hery was headed home by Oisin Hand from close range.

 It looked like Longford would have to be content with just a two goal lead at the break as the game headed into stoppage time but there was late drama.

 Another corner materialised for the Town and Hery once more sent in the delivery and an unfortunate night for Athlone got worse when the ball was put into his own net by Jarlath Jones.

 It left Longford in control at the break and seemingly set to register their first win in the current league campaign. Athlone had been unbeaten in the midlands derby last season but were now on course for defeat, or so it seemed.  

Athlone needed to respond when play resumed. Two early corners were earned but the Longford defence held firm before the home team were thrown a lifeline on the hour mark. 

Jamal Ibrahim sent in a low cross from the right and a neat turn from Dean Ebbe saw the striker rifle a shot to the roof of the net from ten yards out. Earlier Longfor striker Chris Lyons had gone down in the penalty box under a challenge from Minogue but he was booked for diving.

 Ibrahim fired wide from long range and was again involved when Athlone reduced the deficit to the minimum after 70 minutes. The striker's shot was parried by Brady but Ebbe was on hand to send the rebound to the net. 

The amazing comeback was completed 3 minutes later when some trickery play from substitute Shane Forbes created the opening for Ibrahim to score the equaliser. 

Athlone now went in pursuit of a winner and Longford had the woodwork to thank for salvaging a point from a thrilling encounter. Ebbe had a shot cleared but he came within the width of the post from claiming his hat-trick after 82 minutes. Brian Torre crossed from the left and Ebbe sent his close range strike against the post to let Longford off the hook. 

The home team finished with ten men when Oakley picked up a second yellow card with five minutes remaining in what proved to be the last noteworthy incident in this remarkable match.         

Athlone Town: Enda Minogue, Jarlath Jones, Noah VanGeenen (Abdul Barrie, 71 mins), Aaron Connolly, Dean Ebbe, Armado Oakley, Gideon Tetteh (Shane Forbes, half-time), Dan McKenna, Ruben Ferreira (Oisin Duffy, 87 mins), Brian Torre, Jamal Ibrahim (Divine Izekor, 74 mins). 

Longford Town: Jack Brady, Shane Elworthy, Oisin Hand, Dean O’Shea, Kyle O’Connor, Luke Wade Slater, Adam Wixted (Mohammed Boudiaf, 72 mins), Karl Chambers (Guilherme Priosti, 87 mins), Conor Crowley, Bastien Hery, Chris Lyons (Francis Campbell, 72 mins).

Referee: Chris Sheehan (Cork).