Longford Town 0-1 Bohemians
Bohemians leap-frogged both Finn Harps and Sligo Rovers to move into seventh position in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table with a 1-0 win over Longford Town at City Calling Stadium.
Kurtis Byrne netted the game's only goal inside the opening two minutes when he capitalised on a mishap in the Longford rearguard. Town improved somewhat in the second half but Don Cowan's dismissal on 73 put paid to any potential comeback as the striker was sent off following a challenge on Derek Pender.
The result sees further pressure mount on Longford boss Tony Cousins whose team now lie four points adrift following Bray's win over Wexford.
The midlanders came into this tie having suffered six defeats in their eight home games to date. It looked a if the record would further deteriorate with just 90 seconds played. Town failed to clear what looked like a fairly innocuous ball into their penalty area, where Kurtis Byrne was alive at the back post to touch the ball onto the woodwork and past Paul Skinner for his third league goal of the season.
Skinner dealt with Paddy Kavanagh's half volley from distance at the second attempt on 23 while the home side went close twice in quick succession just short of the half hour. David O'Sullivan's neat nutmeg brought him past Dan Byrne before the striker squared for Philip Gannon whose attempt was touched over the crossbar by the observant Dean Delany.
The Bohs net minder could only look on in relief two minutes later when Noel Haverty's powerful diving header from a Kealan Dillon cross, flew narrowly over his crossbar.
Keith Buckley was next to go close. His looping header landing on the top of Skinner's net seven minutes from the break as the Gypsies weathered Longford's attempted revival to lead at the interval.
The home team looked much improved during the early exchanges of the second half and went close to levelling the game on 54. Substitute Don Cowan did well to evade Pender's challenge at the edge of the Bohs area before finding Philip Gannon. Gannon's cushioned header landed in the vicinity of Kaleem Simon whose improvised volley on the turn flashed past Delany's post.
Akinade produced a good save from Skinner just short of the hour having sprung the offside trap before out-muscling the recovering Haverty. While the powerful striker again displayed his strength moments later as he kept Gorman at bay but was unable to tuck the ball inside the far post from the angle.
Longford continued to rally and went close in both the 68 and 71st minute. Gannon fluffed his lines after he was teed up by Simon. The midfielder could only erratically sky his effort from 15 yards. While Mark Hughes had Delany at full stretch to see the Longford man's effort wide of his post three minutes later.
The home side's task was made considerably tougher on 73 when Cowan was deservedly dismissed for a dangerous challenge on Pender. Referee James McKell with little doubt in his mind as he flashed the red card following Cowan's over-zealous lunge on the Bohs captain.
Longford Town: Paul Skinner; Kealan Dillon, Rhys Gorman, Noel Haverty, Daniel O'Reilly (Cody Mulhall 75), Conor Powell; Kevin O'Connor, Philip Gannon (Peter McGlynn 85), Mark Hughes; Kaleem Simon, David O'Sullivan (Don Cowan 45).
Bohemians: Dean Delany; Derek Pender, Roberto Lopes, Derek Prendergast, Lorcan Fitzgerald (Aymen Ben Mohamed 65); Paddy Kavanagh (Eoin Wearen 89), Keith Buckley, Daniel Byrne, Dylan Hayes; Kurtis Byrne (Mark Quigley 85), Ismahil Akinade.
Referee: James McKell
