Details
Date | Time | League | Season |
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29 October 2021 | 7:30 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2021 |
Match Report
Pat’s grab four in Longford
Stephen O’Donnell’s St Patrick’s Athletic were victorious 4-1 away to already relegated Longford Town at Bishopsgate tonight.
Matty Smith’s first half brace put the visitors in the driving seat, with two neat finishes from close range.
The hosts improved in the second half and inflicted serious pressure, including Dean Williams’ solo effort.
But Alfie Lewis’ brilliant finish put the game to bed late on, before Smith sealed his hat-trick in injury time.
The hosts started the match well and were denied an opening goal by St Pat’s goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros’ saves.
Rob Manley was denied twice from close range and Dean Williams’ header was saved by the brilliance of Jaros.
But the visitors took the lead after half an hour through Smith.
The striker volleyed home from close range, leaving Lee Steacy rooted to the spot after a wonderful dribble by Chris Forrester and a clever lofted through ball.
At the other end, Manley was denied a penalty as he seemed to have been brought down from behind when through on goal, but the referee wasn’t interested.
On the stroke of half time, St Pat’s doubled their lead through Robbie Benson’s corner catching out Lee Steacy, and Smith was there to head in from close range at the near post.
The visitors started the second half well and were given a boost, when they halved the deficit through Dean Williams’ brilliant solo effort and cool and composed finish.
But the game was put to bed, five minutes from time through Lewis’ brilliant effort after good play by Darragh Burns and Smith set the substitute up for St Pat’s’ third.
The icing was put on the cake, as Smith sealed his hat-trick in injury time, after Burns very unselfishly played the ball across the face of goal for Smith to tap into an empty net.
Timeline
22. Dean Williams | 11' | |
30' | 11. Matty Smith | |
45' | 11. Matty Smith | |
22. Dean Williams | 52' | |
58' | 2. James Abankwah | |
60' | 11. Jason McClelland | |
61' | James Abankwah Lee Desmond | |
61' | Jason McClelland Billy King | |
Darragh Nugent Dylan Grimes | 65' | |
Karl Chambers Conor Davis | 66' | |
68' | Chris Forrester Alfie Lewis | |
74' | 11. Matty Smith | |
77' | Robbie Benson Kyrian Nwoko | |
84' | 6. Alfie Lewis | |
90' | 11. Matty Smith |
Past Meetings
(Series 26)
3 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park St. Patrick’s Athletic v Longford Town |
(Series 15)
1 - 3LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town v St. Patrick's Athletic |
5 - 4eLOI Group C
Online Event St. Patrick’s Athletic v Longford Town |
(Series 8)
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park St. Patrick’s Athletic v Longford Town |
1LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC |
3 - 3LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Longford Town FC |
1LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC |
3LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC |
3LOI Men's Premier Division
Richmond Park St. Patrick’s Athletic FC v Longford Town FC |
2 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v St. Patrick's Athletic FC |
Ground
Bishopsgate, Longford |
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City Calling Stadium, L50021, Mullolagher, Cloondara ED, Longford Municipal District, County Longford, Leinster, Ireland |
Full time: Longford 1-3 St Patrick's Athletic
GOAL! A hat-trick goal for Matty Smith, who was played in by a ball across the face of goal by Burns. That's all she wrote at Bishopsgate.
The fourth official has indicated there will be a minimum of four additional minutes to be played.
A few home fans have seen enough and decided to opt for an early exit, understandable given the torrential conditions.
GOAL! Alfie Lewis' brilliant effort after good play by Burns and Smith extends the visitors' lead and puts the game to bed.
St Pat's sub: Kyrian Nwoko replaces Robbie Benson.
Matty Smith delivers a late challenge on Lynch and is given a yellow card.
A ball over the top is just out of reach of substitute striker Dylan Grimes.
St Pat's sub: Alfie Lewis replaces Chris Forrester.
Longford sub: Conor Davis replaces Karl Chambers, who has picked up a knock.
Longford sub: Dylan Grimes replaces Darragh Nugent.
St Pat's subs: Lee Desmond replaces James Abankwah and Billy King replaces Jay McClelland.
The match is finally poised going into its last quarter.
Jason McClelland goes into the referee's book.
James Abankwah is booked for a foul on Aodh Dervin.
That goal has given the visitors belief and they are pressing high and causing problems for St Pat's.
GOAL! Dean Williams gets one back for Longford. He broke forward and couldn\'t believe his luck that he was through on goal and onside. The attacker stayed cool and composed in front of goal by slotting the ball into the corner of the net past Jaros.
Lively start to the second half, with attacks from both sides.
We're back underway.
Half time: Longford 0-2 St Patrick's Athletic
But on the counterattack, Nugent picks out Williams in the box and the loanee drags his shot wide.
GOAL! 2-0 to St Patrick\\\'s on the stroke of half time and the corner by Benson catches Steacy out at the near post and the ball ends in the back of the net from Smith\'s header.
A St Pat's corner isn't dealt with by the Longford defence as Zamba denies James Abankwah's shot by clearing it off the line.
Forrester makes a vital tackle as Burns was dispossessed and the hosts broke forward. St Pat's have been unusually careless on the ball tonight at times.
Since the goal, the visitors have been in control of the contest, as expected before kick off.
Huge penalty shout as Rob Manley looked to have been brought down from behind, when through on goal but the referee isn't interested.
Smith and Burns play a neat one-two in the box but the ball just gets away from them.
GOAL! What a goal from Matty Smith who volleys home from close range leaving Lee Stacey rooted to the spot, wonderful dribble by Forrester and then a delightful lofted through ball that was dispatched by Smith.
Jaros comes to St Pat's' resuce once more as he denies Rob Manley from close range after being picked out by Williams.
The rain has started to fall at Bishopsgate, we should expect to see plenty more long shots from each side to cause the goalkeepers issues, with the now greasy surface.
The following corner is cleared by the visitors.
Paddy Kirk puts a great ball into the box and Dean Williams has a free header that he scuffs and Jaros palms the ball wide.
The visitors break down the right but a cross is intercepted well by Nugent and the hosts clear their lines.
A quiet opening to tonight's game.
Yellow card for Dean Williams for a needless foul on James Abankwah on the halfway line.
Forrester gives the ball away and Rob Manley found himself with space in the box but Jaros was alert to the danger and gets his side out of jail for a second time.
St Pat's haven't ignited into life just yet, as their first attack runs out of play for a goal kick.
Longford have an early corner and O'Driscoll's free header is well saved by Jaros. First scare of the game for St Pat's.
Not the biggest away support, with St Pat\'s\' fans probably having one eye on Monday night's game at home to Bohemians.
A very sparse turnout from the home crowd but understandable given their side is just playing for pride, after their relegation a few weeks ago.
We're underway.
The teams are out and we are a matter of moments away from kick off.
Today's referee is Ray Matthews.
St Pat’s have enjoyed an impressive campaign that sees them in second place with 56 points from their 31 games.
The hosts have endured a miserable campaign, having already been relegated from the topflight as they lie in last place on just 14 points from 31 games.
The temperature in Longford is currently nine degrees Celsius, with humidity levels at 87% and a wind of seven mph.
Hello and welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of tonight's League of Ireland Premier Division matchup between Longford Town and St Patrick's Athletic at Bishopsgate.