Longford Town are now unbeaten in four matches following a 2-0 win over Athlone Town in the SSE Airtricity League first division at Bishopsgate.
Two second-half goals from Darren Craven and Michael Barker resulted in a deserved victory for Gary Cronin’s men.
The game was a lacklustre affair overall, especially the first half. Both sides lacking in cohesion which translated to a scarcity of meaningful chances.
Town dominanted the second-half but despite enjoying the better scoring opportunities, the hosts only managed to score from set-pieces.
The first chance fell to the visitors 41 seconds in. Thomas Oluwa latched onto Stephen Kenny’s right-wing cross, his 25-yard effort lacked conviction and was easily saved by Luke Dennison.
Athlone were gifted another opportunity on 21 minutes. Dean McMenamy’s poor clearance found Carlton Ubaezuonu who passed the ball to Glen McCauley and his effort was repelled by Dennison.
It took the hosts 28 minutes to register a scoring opportunity. Aaron McBride’s headed clearance found it’s way to McMenamy who drilled the ball towards Sam Verdon. Verdon's six-yard effort forced a save from Michael Schlingermann.
The resultant corner kick amounted to nothing and Town missed another chance on 43 minutes. Cian Kelly headed Shane Elworthy’s cross into the path of Aaron Robinson who volleyed wide from 30 yard out as it remained 0-0 at the break.
Town took the lead within two minutes of the restart. Cian Kelly was fouled by Eric Molloy out wide on the right. McMenamy’s delivery deflected off Eugen Slivca into the path of Darren Craven who steered it home from six yards out.
Town scored again on 52 minutes. Ryan Graydon’s cross deflected off Oisin Duffy for a corner kick before Michael Barker headed Graydon’s delivery into the net.
19 minutes later, Town almost profited from slack Athlone defending. Aaron McBride’s poor clearance fell to Craven who carried the ball inside the box before shooting over the crossbar.
The hosts almost scored again two minutes from time. Eric Molloy and Matthew O’Brien combined to set up Ryan Graydon who hit the side net from inside the box.
The missed opportunity didn’t prove detrimental in the end however as Town emerged victorious and are now unbeaten in 18 matches against Athlone Town.
Longford Town: L Dennison, S Elworthy, D Barnett, M Barker, B Lynch; R Graydon (93 M Butler), D Craven, Dean McMenamy, A Robinson (76 K Chambers), E Molloy; S Verdon (85 M O’Brien)
Athlone Town: M Schlingermann; C Kelly, A McBride, A Spain, O Duffy (87 Q Nkansah); S Kenny, G Armstrong (63 Y Having), E Slivca; C Ubaezuonu (63 D Daly), G McAuley T Oluwa (63 S Edogun)
