Ten-man Longford Town stage remarkable recovery in dramatic win over Treaty United

Treaty United . . . 2     Longford Town . . . 3

Defender Aaron Walsh was sent-off in the 78th minute with the Limerick side leading 2-1 and it looked like a mission impossible for Longford in their quest to gain a positive result in the fierce battle for a place in the promotion play-offs. 

But Stephen Henderson’s spirited side showed great courage to salvage the situation with substitute Cristian Magerusan hitting the equaliser from a superb free-kick in the 87th minute.

Magerusan struck again to snatch the last gasp winning goal in the fourth minute of additional time amid scenes of wild delight and this vital victory is a big boost for Longford who are back in action against Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle grounds on the Bank Holiday Monday, kick-off 3pm.

Treaty took the lead in the 12th minute when new signing Adam Lennon found the back of the net after the ball broke kindly into the path of the former Athlone Town player following a long-throw from Marc Ludden. 

The Town were back on level terms in the 20th minute when a cross from Adam Wixted was finished to the net by Gary Armstrong but fell behind again just before the break.

Dean George was on target for a well-taken goal in the 44th minute and Treaty had a good chance of scoring again in the 58th minute but Stephen Christopher shot wide.

Longford were then denied by a fine double save by the Treaty keeper Corey Chambers in the 65th minute. After stopping a header from Lewis Temple, the agile Chambers kept out the strike from Town substitute Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh.

It was not looking good for Longford when Aaron Walsh was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card but the visitors somehow found the energy to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat. 

A terrific free-kick from Cristian Magerusan flew past the Treaty keeper Chambers and after O’Brien Whitmarsh missed a big chance for the midlanders, the matchwinner Magerusan capitalised on poor defending to score the all-important third goal from close range with time almost up.  

TREATY UNITED: Corey Chambers; Ben O’Riordan, Sean Guerins, Mark Walsh, Marc Ludden, Adam Lennon (Willie Armshaw 62 mins), Stephen Christopher (Conor Barry 62 mins), Colin Conroy, Lee Devitt, Dean George (Success Edogun 80 mins), Enda Curran.

LONGFORD TOWN: Jack Brady, Shane Elworthy, Aaron Walsh, Lewis Temple, Kyle O’Connor, Victor Serdeniuk (Mohammed Boudiaf 85 mins), Dylan Hand, Adam Wixted, Gary Armstrong (Joshua Giurgi 80 mins), Ola Adeyemo (Cristian Magerusan 65 mins), Jordan Adayemo (Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh 65 mins).

Referee: Ray Matthews.