An impressive win in the Cup last week proved a false dawn as Finn Harps were bought bouncing back down to earth by Longford Town at Finn Park.
Finn Harps…0 Longford Town…1
Just two points separated these two teams before kick-off with Longford Town holding the slight advantage over Harps.
By Charlie Collins at Finn Park with pictures by Joe Boland
Runaway leaders Galway Utd looking certain to take the automatic promotion spot, Waterford Utd are odds-on to finish second while Cobh Ramblers and Athlone Town looking strong in third and fourth.
It’s now maybe a case of the race for the final play-off spot being the only thing available to the next five teams who are separated by seven points, with tonight’s two and Treaty Utd having played a game less than Wexford and Bray.
So a win tonight for both teams was vital to stay in the play-off picture.
After an even enough opening fifteen minutes devoid of any clear-cut chances, the visitors took the lead in the 17th minute when Beineon O Brien Whitmarsh did well down the right and his excellent cross was headed home off a post by Cristain Magerusan.
Harps responded well to this setback and pushed forward without really creating any clear chances.
In the 34th minute Longford went close to a second goal, Gary Armstrong did well wide on the right and his cross found the head of Magerusan but he couldn’t get the necessary power to beat keeper Rory Kelly.
A good Harps move in the 41st minute involving Tony McNamee and Stephen Doherty forced a corner but it was well dealt with and we reached half-time with the visitors 0-1 ahead.
Just before the break Harps defender Daithi McCallion was injured when challenging for a high ball and had to be removed by stretcher.
Harps started the second-half well and had the visitors on the back foot, Patrick Ferry got on the end of a good move in the 48th minute but shot straight at ‘keeper Jack Brady and in a counter attack Harps Matthew Makinson got a yellow card for a foul on Magerusan as they contested a dangerous through ball.
Tony McNamee went close with a cracking 25 yard piledriver in the 59th minute, his effort just clearing the crossbar with ‘keeper Brady struggling to get to it.
Harps then received another huge blow in the 63rd minute when Makinson got a second yellow and then red card for a rash challenge on Beineon O Brien Whitmarch in midfield, the Longford man had to be replaced.
Both teams made a number of changes , Harps having to reshape after the red card and needing a goal to try and get something from the game, both Aaron McLaughlin and Sean O Donnell were introduced.
Longford could have clinched it in the 72nd minute when sub Joshua Guirgi burst through but blasted wide.
At the other end a well worked free-kick by Tony McNamee to Ryan Flood forced a good save by Jack Brady and the rebound just didn’t come down quickly enough for the waiting Aaron McLaughlin and was cleared.
To their credit, Harps ten men battled hard right to the end but despite six minutes injury-time just couldn’t get that vital equaliser and it ended in another home defeat and the the path to that final play-off spot getting more difficult.
It finished 0-1 to the visitors.
Finn Harps: Rory Kelly; Semi Scott Wara, Daithi McCallion ( Ellis Farrar 45mins ) , Matty Makinson , Stephen Doherty , Max Hutchison , ( Aaron McLaughlin 70mins), Jamie Watson , Tony McNamee , Ryan Flood. , BJ Banda ( Caoimhin Porter 65mins), Patrick Ferry ( Sean O Donnell 70mins).
LONGFORD TOWN ; Jack Brady, Gavin O’Brien ( Bastien Hery 75mins), Lewis Temple, Oisin Hand, Shane Elworthy ( Mohammed Boudiaf 90mins ) , Kyle O’Connor, Adam Wixted, Viktor Serdeniuk, Gary Armstrong ( James Doona 75mins), Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh ( Joshua Giurgi 64mins), Cristian Magerusan ( Jordan Adeyemo 78mins).
