Longford Town away to Athlone in the final game of the season

One has to say that this is a season that most of the supporters will want to forget in looking forward to the club’s centenary year in the 2024 campaign. 

The Longford Town fans were hoping that the club might at least be in the top 5 and in the promotion play-offs but that wasn't achievable. 

As stated before the manager Stephen Henderson came in too late to give him a chance to assemble a squad that would be in the top half of the table and challenging for honours this season. 

Third from bottom isn't what supporters of any club would want and let's hope that things will change next season. 

The fact that Stephen Henderson will be in charge for the 2024 season is a big boost for everyone and it gives him a chance to assemble his squad now.

 With news of all types of investment in clubs in this country it is going to be much harder for clubs to survive going forward. 

It's nice to be told by visiting clubs and also Premier Division clubs that the Town's ground is one of the best in the league but we all have to push forward and make it even better. 

There is no doubt that we need cover on the far side of the ground but like other clubs we need investment but that is for another day.

 This Friday will be huge for some First Division clubs as there are possibilities in the promotion play-off spots. The Town travel to Athlone in the hope of reversing the trend of this season in midland derby games.

 To date the teams have played each other on three occasions and unfortunately Athlone have all the bragging rights. 

The first meeting between Longford and Athlone this season was on the opening day of the season in mid February and the visitors started with a bang in coming to Bishopsgate and going away with a 3-1 victory. Impressive striker Frantz Pierrot was the star of the show that night scoring two superb goals.

 The powerful striker gave the visitors the lead after 26 minutes but the Town equalised in the 41st minute when Darragh Lynch scored.

 The visitors got back in the lead in the 61st minute when Campion-Hinds scored and three minutes later Pierrot scored goal no 3 for Athlone.

  The next game was in Athlone on the first weekend in June and on that occasion the game had only one goal and it came from lethal striker Pierrot in the 16th minute. This game will be remembered for all the wrong reasons as there was a card happy referee.

Aodh Dervin saw red in the 64th minute and Athlone lost Velikin to a red card in the 90th minute and Kyle O'Connor also saw red (an outrageous decision) in additional time.

The most recent  meeting between the teams was in mid August and on that occasion it was a five goal thriller. 

Valerii Dolia gave the visitors the lead after 38 minutes but two goals from in-form striker Cristian Magerusan in the 40th and 65th minutes put the Town ahead.

 Some shambolic defending was punished by Pierrot in the 80th and 88th minutes to give Athlone a slender 3-2 victory. 

Three defeats in one season is not what the club, the supporters and no doubt the management of the Town team wanted and hopefully that can be rectified on Friday night with a victory for the red and black. 

This is a very workmanlike Athlone team and it will take a massive effort from the Town to get a victory over there. 

Like the Town, Athlone are going through a barren spell points wise and they will also be hoping to get a win on the final day of the regular season to clinch a place in the promotion play-offs.

We expect a large crowd to travel on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm) so please get behind the team in the last midlands derby of the season.