Town up to second after victory over Shels

Match Report by Tony Ghee

Goals from Peter Hopkins and Karl Chambers helped Longford Town to a two-nil victory over title favourites Shelbourne at the City Calling Stadium, a result that moves the 'Red & Black' up to second in the table just one point behind leaders Bray.

The Town took the lead on nineteen minutes after a dreadful mistake by Shelbourne keeper Delany. The visiting goalie's throw was intercepted by Town winger Peter Hopkins, he waltzed past the challenge of central defender Luke Byrne, and drilled a low shot into the bottom right corner of the Shel's net from the edge of the box.

It was almost two-nil to the home side just sixty seconds later, only for Delany to superbly tip-over Dean Zambra's twenty-five yard thunderbolt.

MATCH PICTURES BY KEN KEENAN

Nine minutes into the second-half, a superb pass from the right from Shane Elworthy picked out Dobbs just inside the Shel's box but his angled shot was well saved by Delany.

Shelbourne almost levelled the contest on fifty-eight minutes when Ryan Brennan's downward header from a Lorcan Fitzgerald corner was headed off the line by Town winger Hopkins.

The visitors put the Town under severe pressure for the rest of the second-half but failed to test home keeper Steacy and deep into injury time, substitute Chambers sealed the three points with a fine strike that went in off the post.

TEAM LINE-UPS

Longford Town: Steacy, Elworthy, Kenna, McDonnell, Breslin, Zambra, Hopkins, Dervin, Verdon, Byrne, Dobbs.

Substitutes: Chambers for Hopkins (79'), Doyle for Dobbs (81'), O'Connor for Verdon (89').

Shelbourne: Delany, Ross-Wilson, David Byrne, Luke Byrne, Fitzgerald, Oscar Brennan, Conan Byrne, Noone, Ryan Brennan, Moore, Kilduff.

Substitutes: Rooney for Conan Byrne (19'), English for Noone (59')