2 v 0 
Athlone TownDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 April 2022 | 7:30 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2022 |
Match Report
Craven and Barker help Longford win Midlands derby
Goals from Darren Craven and Michael Barker saw Longford Town win the first El Clasico of the season and extend their unbeaten record over Athlone Town to 18 games. The win moves Town up to fourth in the table.
Longford broke the deadlock in the 48th minute when a free from Dean McMenamy was finished to the net by Craven. Five minutes later Longford got a second; Michael Barker with a powerful header from a Dylan Barnett corner.
It wasn’t a great spectacle to watch but the home side bossed proceedings and could have scored more. Athlone were poor. They tried to play a little in the first half but were terrible after the break and offered very little. Longford are now four games unbeaten in the league while Athlone are rooted to the bottom three points adrift of eighth place Cobh Ramblers.
Longford were on top in the opening 15 minutes but a mistake on 22 minutes allowed Athlone’s Glen McAuley in but he shot straight at Longford keeper Luke Dennison. On 24 minutes Longford thought they should’ve had a penalty when Athlone keeper hauled Sam Verdon down in the box but referee Kevin O’Sullivan waved play on.
On 26 minutes Athlone had a shot but Gary Armstrong’s weak effort failed to trouble Dennison. Down the other end Athlone keeper Michael Schlingermann pulled off a superb save with one hand to deny Sam Verdon. It was all Longford as the half wore on but they still couldn’t score. Aaron Robinson hit a powerful strike just wide before
the break.
The second half was just three minutes old when Longford opened the scoring through Craven. Five minutes later Barker’s powerful header made it 2-0 to the home side. After that it was all Longford as they piled on the pressure. Barnett’s curling effort was pushed away by Schlingermann in the 57th minute. Athlone made three changes as they tried to create something but they failed to threaten the home side.
Craven burst through on 72 minutes but instead of placing his shot he blasted the ball over the bar.
Timeline
Past Meetings
|
(Series 14)
0 - 4LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town v Longford Town |
|
(Series 5)
2 - 0LOI Men's First Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town v Athlone Town |
Ground
| Bishopsgate, Longford |
|---|
| City Calling Stadium, L50021, Mullolagher, Cloondara ED, Longford Municipal District, County Longford, Leinster, Ireland |
Deniese O'Flaherty
Deniese is a freelance sports journalist/broadcaster. She has worked for several local and national media outlets. GAA and soccer are her great loves and she also follows rugby league and snooker. She's a big supporter of her local clubs St. Mary's GAA Granard and Longford Town. She also follows Celtic, Liverpool and Leeds Rhinos. She presented and produced a popular sports podcast last year where she interviewed Ray Houghton, Chris Kamara and John Hartson. Deniese is currently Head of Communications for Boccia Ireland
Ryan Graydon is off
Matthew Butler on for the home side
Oisin Duffy is off
Quincy Nkansah is on for Athlone
Sam Verdon makes way for him
Matthew O\'Brien is on for Longford
Aaron Robinson is the player to make way
Karl Chambers is on for Longford
Darren Craven bursts through, takes a shot and instead of placing it he blasts it over the bar.
Carlton Ubaezuonu
Youri Habing
Thomas Oluwa
Success Edogun
Gary Armstrong
Derek Daly
Athlone are going to make 3 changes and someone in the pressbox said they are bringing on a new team.
Dylan Barnett with a curling effort which is pushed away by Schlingermann
Michael Barker with the Town's second. A powerful header from a Ryan Graydon corner.
Town break the deadlock with a goal through Darren Craven. A free from Dean McMenamy.
Half-time here. Poor affair
Aaron Robinson with a shot from distance. Longford with the chances but not really troubling Athlone.
Beautiful ball from Dean McMenamy to Ryan Graydon but Graydon's first touch let him down.
Longford are making hard work of this. They get into the box and then appear not to know what to do.
What a save from Schlingermann! Sam Verdon with a shot from close range but the Athlone minder pushes away the effort with his hand
Athlone with a great chance but Gary Armstrong hits a weak effort at Luke Dennison
Michael Schlingermann appears to haul down Sam Verdon in the box. No penalty
A mistake in the Longford defence gifts Athlone a chance but Glen McAuley shoots straight at Luke Dennison
Longford win the first corner of the game.
Sam Verdon with possession and is a little too selfish.
Sam Verdon with possession and is a little too selfish.
It has been all Longford here. No goals to report, yet.