Athlone Town produced a comeback typical of Easter time to draw a dramatic midlands derby with Longford Town.
Longford Town squandered a three goal half-time lead to draw 3-3 with 10-man Athlone as Longford await their first win of the season.
Longford took the lead with just four minutes on the clock. A perfectly weighted Bastien Hery ball finding Adam Wixted between the centre and right back.
Wixted calmly slotted the ball across Enda Mingoue’s sprawling leg for the lead.
Longford dominated the early stages and were far more positive in midfield. Chris Lyons inches offside on 14 minutes when played through on goal.
Lyons should have doubled the Longford lead five minutes later. Wixted whipped in a free-kick that avoided the Athlone defence. Lyons got something on it as the ball crept wide.
The hosts grew into the game as the half progressed. Gideon Tetteth with Athlone's opening efforts. First on 23 minutes as he stung the hands of Jack Brady from 25-yards.
Two minutes later Tetteth's trickery saw Shane Elworthy stand-off. From the corner of the box, Tetteth whipped a shot straight at Brady.
Wixted was the Longford danger man all night, getting a good shot off from inside the box with 31 minutes on the clock. Alas, keeper Minogue stopped it dramatically.
The visitors went 2-0 ahead with 34 minutes gone. A sustained period of pressure resulted in a Longford corner.
Wixted whipped it in and Oisin Hand rose unchallenged to head home. The small travelling support becoming more vocal on the cool Athlone night.
It got better for Longford as Athlone struggled to put two passes together. Hery's corner in the first minute of injury-time was made a mess of by Enda Minogue. Luckily his defenders cleared.
Longford 3-0 up at half-time
There was no luck for Athlone from the second corner. Hery again seeing his delivery find Hand, whose header took a deflection off Jarlath Jones and into the net as Longford led 3-0 at half-time.
While Athlone battled back early doors after the restart, they failed to trouble Longford keeper Brady. Seven minutes after the restart Lyons and Wixted combined to open the hosts defence. A scrappie clearance saved Athlone.
Dean Ebbe capitalised on a mistake in the Longford box with 60 minutes on the clock. Jamal Ibrahim found Ebbe from the right. Dean O’Shea fell to give Ebbe a free shot from 10-yards with Ebbe blasting home.
The hosts comeback was on with 25 minutes remaining. Athlone had dominated without either side threatening in the earlier period.
Athlone comeback
Ibrahim was played through, his rasping low shot was stopped by Brady. Ebbe pounced on the rebound for 3-2.
Four minutes later and Athlone were level. Longford stood off as Forbes dribbled into the box. Ibrahim released a rocket past Brady for the equaliser.
Athlone came lose to taking the lead twice in three minutes. Longford unable to handle Brian Torre who set up Ebbe for a snap shot which Brady stopped low to his left.
Eight minutes from time Torre opened up Longford down the left again. Ebbe from close range rattled the post.
The derby tension boiled over four minutes from time. Oakley seeing red for a second yellow after a rash challenge.
3-3 the final score in a game Longford surely lost two points. Longford are bottom of the League of Ireland first division with one point from three games.
Athlone Town: Enda Minogue, Amardo Akeem Oakley, Jarlath Jones, Noah Van Geenan (Abdul Hassan Barrie 72), Brian Torre, Aaron Connolly, Daniel McKenna, Jamal Ibrahim (Divine Izekor 75), Ruben Manuel Oliveria Ferreira (Oisin Duffy 88), Gideon Tettehn (Shane Forbes HT), Dean Ebbe
Longford Town: Jack Brady, Shane Elworthy, Oisin Hand, Dean O'Brien, Kyle O'Connor, Luke Ward Slater, Bastien Hery, Conor Crowley, Karl Chambers (Guilherme Rego Priosti 88), Adam Wixted (Mohammed Boudiaf 73), Chris Lyons (Francis Campbell 73).
Referee: Chris Sheehan
