Longford thump Shels to leave title race alive
Saturday 6th November 2004, 9:51 pm
Dessie Baker, Longford Town
Photo by Tom Carey.
6th November 2004
eircom League of Ireland Premier Division
Longford Town 4
Eric Lavine 23
Dessie Baker 38
Sean Prunty 57
Alan Kirby 89
Shelbourne 1
David Crawley 35
Flancare Park
Longford Town secured one of the shock results of the season tonight and blew the title race wide open again. Longford hammered Shelbourne 4-1 at Flancare Park, meaning that Cork's disappointing draw last night has actually seen them make up ground on Shels.
Eric Lavine put Longford ahead midway through the first half. The striker charged down an attempted clearance from Shels keeper Steve Williams and slotted home.
David Crawley scored his second league goal of the season, both coming this week against Longford. Again it was from a free-kick and the sides were level on 35 minutes.
Sean Prunty set up Dessie Baker and Baker helped himself to a second against his former club in a week as he slotted past Williams following a tricky run.
Prunty put Longford 3-1 up before the hour as he rounded off a perfect counter-attacking move.
Shels were reduced to ten men on the hour when Alan Moore again lost his self-discipline and was sent off for a clash with Prunty.
You would have thought that was enough drama for one night but it lasted until the final minute. Jason Byrne had a 79th minute penalty saved by Stephen O'Brien as Shels' night fell apart. Vinny Perth, was sent off while warming up on the sidelines. Perth was adjudged to have prevented Shels from retrieving the ball.
The unthinkable happened in the final minute and Longford grabbed a fourth. Alan Kirby wrapping up a famous win for Longford with a tap-in.
The result leaves Cork City six points behind Shels, although the Rebels have a game in hand. Goal difference could yet become very important and Shels' advantage has been dented in that regard tonight.
Longford Town : O'Brien, Dillon, Paisley, Martin, Ferguson, Gartland, Kirby, Fitzgerald, Lavine, Baker, Prunty.
Shelbourne : Williams, S Byrne, Crawley, Rogers, Doherty, Crawford, Cahill, Moore, Fitzpatrick (Rowe 74), J Byrne, Houlahan (Cawley 77).