Goals from debutants Success Edogun and Mark Mbuli and in between a cracker from Jamie Watson saw Finn Harps come from 2-0 down after only twelve minutes to beat Longford Town in this season opener.
Longford Town…2 Finn Harps…3
Harps got off to the worst possible start in this season opener at Strokestown Road as Chris Lyons scored twice in the opening fifteen minutes to get Longford Town off to a flying.
Harps gave debuts to Dave Cawley and Success Edogun but found themselves chasing the game after that terrible start.
They suffered another setback when Aaron McLaughlin had to be replaced due to injury, Mark Mbuli came on to make his debut.
To their credit they settled into their game and pulled a goal back when Success Edogun beat two defenders and his shot took a deflection on its way to the net for a debut goal and Harps back in the game in the 28th minute.
It remained 2-1 at half-time and Harps in the mix despite that poor start.
There was a period of stalemate in the opening quarter of the second-half before Harps applied some pressure and in the 59th minute when Stephen Doherty’s excellent shot was pushed onto the woodwork by keeper Jack Brady , a let-off for Longford.
However the keeper could do nothing in the 68th minute when Jamie Watson drove forward and blasted a cracking shot past him to bring Harps back on level terms at 2-2 and with momentum.
Tim Hiemer made an excellent save to deny the home side and then Harps sub and debutant Chris Lotefa got through but was denied by Brady as things hotted up as time ran out.
But just when we thought the points would be shared and Harps had done well it got even better as Mark Mbuli stepped up to crack home a super winner to complete a brilliant comeback from 2-0 down after only twelve minutes to take all three points and a winning start for Manager Darren Murphy.
Longford Town FC ; Jack Brady , Shane Elworthy , Kyle O Connor , Jamie Egan , Luke Wade-Slater ( Mohammed Boudiaf 79mins) Viktor Serdeniuk , Chris Lyons, Adam Wixted , Bastian Hery ( Karl Chambers 90mins), Deano Shea , Dean George (Samuel Clarke 79mins).
Finn Harps ; Tim Hiemer , Jamie Watson , Mattie Makinson, Noe Baba , Shane McMonagle , Tony McNamee, Dave Cawley , Stephen Doherty ( Max Hutchison 70mins), Aaron McLaughlin ( Mark Mbuli 21mins) , Success Edogun , Patrick Ferry ( Chris Lotefa 70mins). Referee ; Daryl Carolan.
