Longford Town away to Finn Harps on Friday and at home to Treaty United on Monday

After a very busy weekend, it is the same scenario for Longford Town again this weekend as they have to play home and away in a short period of time which is very hard on a part-time outfit. 

Last Friday night the Town were beaten by UCD at the Belfield Bowl on a 1-0 scoreline. The result doesn't tell the true story as the Town had their chances but unfortunately the game was decided on a winner from the very impressive Jake Doyle who also scored on Monday in the 2-1 home defeat by Cobh Ramblers.

Longford, under the managerial reins of Wayne Groves,  have improved considerably since the Town coach took charge in a caretaker capacity.

There has been a lot written in recent weeks about the situation that the Town find themselves in but one has to compliment coach Groves who has the team playing good attacking football and one can't say that they lack effort and commitment. 

The current squad is very threadbare with as many as seven regulars missing for various reasons including injury and suspension. The loss of Chris Lyons, Jamie Egan, Adam Wixted, Karl Chambers, Bastien Hery, Aaron Walsh and Dean George has left Groves with a very tough task.

Against UCD last Friday you could see a vast improvement in performance and on the Bank Holiday Monday last the Town registered their first victory in the league this season, defeating Kerry FC 2-1 at Bishopsgate. 

The goals came from Francis Campbell and Luke Wade-Slater for the Town and a really special goal for Kerry from substitute Ryan Kelliher. 

Let's hope that this badly needed result will kick start the season for the club in their centenary year. 

On Monday the club advertised the position of manager and no doubt there will be lots of interest despite the Town being at  the wrong end of the First Division table. 

On Friday the Town travel to Ballybofey to play Darren Murphy's Finn Harps who currently are placed 5th in the table on 21 points, the same amount as 4th placed Bray and just one point behind Athlone who have crept unnoticed to 3rd in the table on 22 points. 

Bray beat Harps 1-0 at the Carlisle grounds on Monday evening. 

The new look Harps team look to be improving by the week before the blip against Bray. Captain Tony McNamee is playing superb football and his experience alongside David Cawley is the big bonus in the Harps squad. 

In the previous meeting between the clubs this season Harps came from behind to collect all three points at Bishopsgate.

 New striker Chris Lyons gave the Town a two goal early lead with goals in the 6th and 13th minutes but goals from Edogun, Watson and a late, late winner from Mbuli in stoppage time clinched a dramatic win for the Donegal side.

Treaty United, under manager Tommy Barrett, were so unlucky to lose 1-0 against Athlone and are having a bad run with injuries with their position in eight place showing that they are struggling at the moment. 

Losing defender Evan O'Connor to a red card was a big blow and the fact that striker Enda Curran has missed many games recently due to injury has also hampered the team going forward. 

As the table stands at the moment Treaty are in 8th position on 12 points, which is three ahead of Kerry and five ahead of the Town. 

Manager Barrett is one of the shrewdest in the game and no doubt he will get his team back in form with just over one third of the games played to date. 

Treaty have the experience of Stephen Christopher, Thomas Considine, Mark Byrne, Ben O'Riordan and Lee Devitt to backbone the team and they also have the very impressive Yoyo Mahdy who previously played for UCD. 

Monday's game at Bishopsgate will give caretaker boss Groves a chance to look at some of the other squad members and there is no doubt that Treaty will be a tough nut to crack. 

SSE Airtricity League First Division

Friday 10 May 

Finn Harps v Longford Town  

at Finn Park 

Kick-off 7.45pm 

Monday 13 May 

Longford Town v Treaty United 

at Bishopsgate 

Kick-off 7.45pm