- Extratime Team
- Sun, Mar 19 2023
Finn Harps earned their first win of the season as they beat Longford Town courtesy of a late Ryan Rainey penalty at Bishopsgate on Saturday night.
With both sides coming into the game on the back of a pair of draws and Ryan Flood's strike against Bray Wanderers a fortnight ago the only goal either side has scored in the four games, it was unlikely to be a high scoring encounter- and so it proved.
Stephen Henderson made a trio of changes following a goalless draw at the Carlisle Grounds last weekend - Hand, Ibrahim and Boudiaf being replaced by O'Brien, Campbell and Meaney.
Dave Rogers' side traveled south with two swaps following their blank scoreboard at home to Wexford, Filip da Silva and Keith Cowan coming in for Seamas Keogh and former Kerry FC Academy attacker Okwuy Okute.
However, the former Shelbourne and Dundalk defender was forced to look to his six strong bench after only twenty minutes. Iconic centre half Cowan's injury seeing Kevin Jordan enter the action.
Both sides huffed and puffed their way through the opening half with defences very much on top- neither keeper forced into showcasing their wares to any great extent. In the absence of Cowan, 27 year old Victor Serdeniuk was the oldest outfield player on view- taking the crown by a day from his teammate Gary Armstrong- and the energy of youth was a welcome addition given the sodden, energy sapping nature of the Bishopsgate turf.
The second half was barely underway when Jack Brady made the first big save of the night, denying Noe Baba - the former Republic of Ireland U21 international now back in the League of Ireland following a spell in German football.
Longford's Aodh Dervin had a sighter from range which skipped past Hiemer's post- the German picked up his first League of Ireland clean sheet last weekend and was relieved to see the on loan Shelbourne midfielder's effort whizz off target.
As the half wore on, the game became dominated by substitutions with six new arrivals in the second period and it was one of these who ultimately made the difference.
Harps replacement striker Okwute- prolific in the Under 19 league with Kerry FC before earning a move to Stockport and a subsequent loan to Finn Park- was bundled over in the box by Kyle O'Connor and referee Daniel Murphy awarded the spot kick in the 82nd minute.
Up stepped Ryan Rainey and he made no mistake for his second successful conversion of the season - slamming the ball to the left hand side of the net beyond the reaches of Jack Brady who had been sent to the right.
With that strike, Harps took all three points for the first time this season and leapfrogged their hosts to sit in seventh position in the First Division. The Town, remain without a win, suffering their second defeat of the campaign ahead of a trip to Galway next weekend.
Longford Town: Jack Brady; Cian Byrne, Shane Elworthy, Gavin O'Brien, Kyle O'Connor; Francis Campbell (Mohamed Boudiaf 67), Aodh Dervin, Victor Serdeniuk; Gary Armstrong (Ross Fay 80), Josh Giurgi (Jamal Ibrahim 65), Stephen Meaney (Darragh Lynch 80).
Subs not used: Jack Harrington, Derek Daly, Evan Farrell, Ciaran Hodanu, Adam Verdon.
Booked: Kyle O'Connor (29), Aodh Dervin (43), Jack Brady (82).
Sent off: None.
Finn Harps: Tim Oliver Hiemer; Noe Baba, Keith Cowan (Kevin Jordan 21), Ellis Farrar, Ryan Flood, Daithi McCallion; Michael Harris (Seamas Keogh 72), Caoimhin Porter, Ryan Rainey; Filip da Silva (Sean O'Donnell 62), Cian Lynch (Daniel Okwute 72).
Subs not used: Katlego Mashigo, Shane McMonagle.
Booked: Dave Rogers (38), Ellis Farrar (42), Kevin Jordan (64).
Sent off: None.
Referee: Daniel Murphy
Attendance: 604
