Athlone advance after League Cup epic

Tuesday 3rd April 2007, 12:17 am

Former Longford player Eric Lavine struck the decisive penalty.

Photo by Tom Carey.

2nd April 2007

League Cup 1st Round

Athlone Town 1

Stevie Gavin 71

Longford Town 1

David Freeman 46

After extra-time

Athlone Town won 5-4 on penalties

Lissywoollen

It can't be classed a total shock when a high flying First Division side beats an out of sorts Premier Division side, but Athlone Town will be delighted after their first cup game at their new stadium saw them oust midlands rivals Longford Town after an in the first round of the League Cup.

Two former players came back to haunt Longford and extend their miserable start to 2007.

It might have been different for Longford on the night but Dave Mooney hammered a shot against the frame of Athlone's goal in the opening couple of minutes.

Longford did take the lead shortly after half-time when Dave Freeman turned the ball home in the first minute of the second period.

However, former Longford man Stevie Gavin struck the equaliser on 71 minutes when he got in on the end of Ian Rossiter's through ball.

Thirty minutes of extra-time failed to produce a winner so the game headed to a penalty shoot-out. After eight successful kicks, Athlone keeper Danny O'Leary saved from John Martin before Athlone's Eric Lavine stepped up and slotted home the crucial penalty to give the home side the win.

Athlone Town : O'Leary, Rossiter, Casey (Young 101), Frawley, Hope, Harty, Gavin, Hamm (Sheridan 57), O'Dowd, McGee (Lavine 46), Heffernan.
Longford Town : Dempsey, Sullivan, Rutherford (O'Riordan 92), J Martin, Brennan, Deegan, Freeman (Lee 83), Mooney, Doyle, R Martin (Wexler 89), Prunty.

IrishFootballOnline.com » The unofficial and Independent Irish Football website.

Athlone advance after League Cup epic

League Cup 1st Round

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