Reality check as UCD halt Longford Town's unbeaten run

After collecting seven points from a most encouraging three-match unbeaten run, there was a reality check for the young Longford Town team in the defeat against UCD at the Bowl on Friday night last.  

UCD . . . 2    Longford Town . . . 0 

Unfortunate not to have broken the deadlock when a header from Alex O’Brien hit the crossbar in the 14th minute, Longford suffered a significant setback just before the half-time whistle when the students took the lead.

A close range header from Michael Raggett evaded the Town keeper Kian Moore as the ball ended up in the back of the net and UCD struck the killer blow when Carl Lennox scored the second goal (another header) as sloppy defending was punished with just over three minutes gone in the second half.

Despite making his trademark triple substitution late in the game, there was no joy for Longford manager Wayne Groves who watched his side lose for the fifth time this season.

Title chasing UCD, who are keeping the pressure on Cork City, went close to scoring a third goal in the 59th minute when they were denied by a great save from Kian Moore.

The Town keeper also came to the rescue when he parried a goalbound shot against the post in the 30th minute and the danger was cleared.

Longford enjoyed some positive moments in the first half after making a dominant start but goals have become very scarce this season with Sultan Adenekan (29 mins) and Pharrell Manuel (41 mins) having shots saved by the UCD netminder Dara Kavanagh. 

UCD: Dara Kavanagh, Ciaran Behan, Sean Murphy, Niall Holohan, Carl Lennox, Adam Wells, Mikey McCullagh, Louis Dignam, Luke O’Regan, Michael Raggett, Hugh Smith.

Subs:- Thomas Morley for Smith and Killian Cailloce for McCullagh (70 mins): Colin Bolton for Dignam and Luca Cailloce for O’Regan (81 mins); Matthew Alonge for Behan (78 mins). 

LONGFORD TOWN: Kian Moore, Alex O’Brien, Taylor McCarthy, Conor Errity, Osaze Irhue, Daniel McKenna, Sultan Adenekan, Pharrell Manuel, Aaron Doran, Andy Paraschiv, Dean Williams.

Subs:- Stefan Ugbesia for O’Brien, Cole Omorehiomwan for Errity and Jake Hough for Doran (all 73 mins); Francis Campbell for Paraschiv and Daragh Murtagh for Williams. 

Referee: Ryan Maher.