Cobh Ramblers claimed a deserved 2-0 victory and a place in the EA Sports Cup semi-final with a hard fought victory over Longford Town on Tuesday evening. In a first half of few opportunities both teams started cautiously, happy to keep possession
Cobh Ramblers recorded an important victory over Longford Town on Saturday night with an impressive 2-0 win.
Stephen Henderson reshuffled his pack for the game and started with a 5-4-1 formation that saw captain Chris McCarthy go into centre back and Cian Coleman move to right back. The game began at a frantic tempo with both teams playing good football.
Early chances for Ramblers' Ross Mann and Longford's Enda Curran were sufficiently dealt with in a first half where defences refused to give an inch. Longford's captain O' Connor and striker Curran were the main sources of threat to Ramblers but their new look back line held firm.
The second half saw the standard of football remain high. Both teams went searching for an opener with Curran a whisker away from giving Longford the lead when he bent the ball brilliantly over Hunt but it went just over the bar.
With Longford dominating possession, Ramblers relied on counter attacking football and it payed off in the 64th minute when McNamara broke through and shot low past Skinner. The keeper was on the backfoot from the break and McNamara did well to exploit this and find the corner of the net.
Longford didn't have time to set themselves before they found themselves two goals down. Again, another counter attacking move that involved Mylod and Whelan saw the ball come to Fleming on the right.
He took a touch before expertly dinking the ball over an onrushing Skinner and into the net. Longford continued to press in search of a way back into the game but Ramblers held firm to secure 3 points and go joint 2nd in the league.
Next up for Cobh Ramblers is a trip to Shelbourne whereas Longford welcome a managerless Athlone.
