Bohemian FC 1-1 Longford Town
Last Friday evening saw Bohemians entertain Longford Town with the home side looking to move to within four points of Saint Patrick’s Athletic in the chase for fourth spot. With the end of the season on the horizon manager Keith Long would have been desperate for his side to take three points from a Longford Town side who sat fourteen points behind them coming in to the game.
The opening exchanges belonged to the Gypsies with midfielder and captain Roberto Lopes getting forward to good effect. It was his neat one two with Akinade which fashioned a half chance but the Longford defense were not to beaten.
As the half wore on the game became somewhat fractured and this suited Longford as they looked to get a foothold in the game. An innocuous tackle on the half way line saw Buckley booked for Bohemians with team mate Kavanagh tasting yellow soon after.
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On the half hour mark Bohs got the games first shot on target courtesy of Akinade. A flick on saw him race between Longford’s centre half pairing but with the angle against him he cut back inside only to see his shot end up in the keepers arms.
Soon after Buckley found himself on the wrong side of the referee and was shown a second yellow. This would prove to be the catalyst for the game and within a minute of Buckley’s sending off the Gypsies found themselves in front.
Man of the match and former Birmingham City player Paddy Kavanagh picked the ball up just inside the Longford half and began one of his trademark runs. With space at a premium he cut inside three Longford men and unleashed a powerful left foot shot from all of twenty five yards which the Longford keeper could only watch nestle into his net.
However, the home sides joy was to be short lived as Longford got themselves back on level terms shortly after from a corner kick. The Bohemians defense could only watch as Haverty’s looping header came off the underside of the bar and in to the net. The goal was greeted with loud cheers by the boisterous Longford contingent.
The second half proved a stalemate as Longford were happy to sit back and hit Bohs on the break. Paddy Kavanagh proved to be his side’s best outlet and came close on a couple of occasions with some mazy runs. In the end a draw seemed a fair result although the Gypsies will feel the loss of Buckley early on cost them three points.
Next up for the Gypsies is a trip to face Drogheda United on the 25th of September, kick-off 7.45pm.
