Match Report: Cobh Ramblers FC 0-0 Longford Town FC

Match Report by James Donnelly

SSE Airtricity League First Division
Cobh Ramblers FC 0-0 Longford Town
Saturday 20^th April 2019, 7.00pm, St. Colman's Park

Ramblers and De Town played out a fairly even 0-0 draw at St. Colman's Park in Cobh tonight in a game that neither team fully deserved to win.

With Sam Verdon ruled out through injury, Dean Byrne slotted into the team with Carlton Ubaezuonu taking a place on the bench for the first time this season.

Both teams opened the game cautiously, creating little in the opening minutes. It was Longford with the first chance though as Conor Kenna's header from a corner was tipped over the bar by Mylod in the Cobh goal.

On 33 minutes Dean Byrne almost opened the scoring for De Town. Shooting from just outside the box, his shot was saved by Mylod who tipped it out for a corner. Only a few minutes later, Byrne had an opportunity again but his shot inside the box was blocked by a Cobh body.

Cobh had the best chance of the first half on 40 minutes. A dangerous free kick floated in by former Town player Shane O'Connor was cleared but only as far as another Cobh man, the ball was whipped back in and headed on for Jaze Kabia who stuck a leg onto the end of it, it hit the Town post and was collected by Lee Steacy.

The second half was pretty much the same. Peter Hopkins had a chance on 52 minutes when he turned his man inside the box and shot but his left foot strike was the wrong side of the post and it went out for a goal kick.

Town goalkeeper Lee Steacy was deemed to have handled the ball outside the box on 71 minutes. The resulting free kick came to nothing and Cobh were left to rue their chances.

On a major positive note, Carlton Ubaezuonu made his debut for Longford, coming on in place of Adam Evans. The former Galway and Dundalk man caused problems for Cobh on the left wing.

Carlton Ubaezuonu, who made his competitive debut for De Town tonight.

Cobh forced a save out of Lee Steacy on 78 minutes but that proved to be the final major chance of the game for the home side.

Carlton went close for De Town in the dying minutes, forcing a save out of Mylod but it wasn't to be as both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils.

TEAM LINE-UPS

Cobh Ramblers: Mylod, Taylor, McSweeney, O'Riordan, O'Connor, O'Connor, Kenny, Turner, Hurley, Fernandez, Kabia.

Subs: Hunt, O'Rourke, West, O'Leary, O'Driscoll.

Longford Town: Steacy, Elworthy, McDonnell, Kenna, Breslin, Hopkins, Dervin, Zambra, Byrne, Brennan, Evans.

Subs: Menton, Ubaezuonu (Evans), O'Conor (Brennan), Hollywood, Noack-Hofmann, Chambers, Manley.

Attendance: 140 est.