Longford Town ensured a third-place finish with a 3-1 victory over Cobh Ramblers at a rain-soaked St. Colman’s Park on Saturday evening. In horrendous conditions, both teams struggled to find any rhythm to their play in the opening stages. Two earl
Longford Town ensured a third-place finish with a 3-1 victory over Cobh Ramblers at a rain-soaked St. Colman’s Park on Saturday evening.
In horrendous conditions, both teams struggled to find any rhythm to their play in the opening stages. Two early corners for the home side came to nothing before Charlie Fleming tested the Longford defence with a couple of decent crosses.
The visitors slowly grew into the game, adapting better to the torrential rain, and found the breakthrough in the 25th minute. Peter Hopkins switched the play across the pitch, finding Adam Evans on the edge of the box.
The winger took a touch before shooting low into the corner. Ramblers looked for an immediate response and found it minutes later when Ian Turner was fouled in the box by Joe Manley.
Cian Leonard confidently dispatched the penalty, sending keeper Lee Steacy the wrong way. Longford continued to probe after the equaliser but hampered by the weather, they could not find a way through before the break.
They didn’t have to wait long in the second half however as Dean Byrne neatly finished in the 48th minute after being set up by Hopkins, his second assist of the night. It was a clever finish by the striker, beating Hunt with a low effort at his near post.
Longford now sensed Ramblers were there for the taking and increased the pressure. It duly paid off as Evans powered home a header from a Hopkins corner in the 58th minute, the midfielder claiming his hat-trick of assists.
Ramblers pressed to get back into the game but never really threatened the Longford goal. The result means the visitors secure third spot and will meet Cabinteely in the first play-off round.
