Chris Forrester fires St Pats to victory against Longford

St Patrick’s Athletic 3 Longford Town 0

A brace from Chris Forrester, his sixth and seventh league goals of the 2015 campaign helped St Pat's to all three points at Richmond Park. James Chambers netted the other goal for Pat's but Longford played well and will be disappointed not to have gotten on the scoresheet at least.

Longford made a good start to the game and were unlucky to find themselves behind on 18 minutes when Forrester met Sean Hoare's cross and curled the ball past Paul Skinner into the far corner.

Town's lone striker Gary Shaw caused plenty of problems for Pat's and it was a crucial late tackle by Greg Bolger on 26 minutes that prevented the possibility of him putting his side level. Shaw then turned provider on the half hour with a low ball across the face of goal that was sent inches wide by Mark Salmon.

Pat's though always held a slight upper hand in this keenly-fought encounter and Forrester doubled the lead from the spot on 43 minutes with a crisp confident finish after Aaron Greene had been upended in the box.

The home side kept up their good work after the break and went further ahead on 49 minutes when Conor McCormack was given too much time and space to get his cross in before Chambers rifled home ten yards.

Ian Bermingham cleared a Town attack on 57 minutes before providing a brilliant cross for Greene at the other end moments later but Greene's subsequent header flashed wide.

Conor Powell denied Forrester a hat-trick with a clearance off the line on 86 minutes.

St Patrick's Athletic: Clarke; O'Brien, Hoare, McGuinness, Bermingham; Bolger (Desmond 76 mins); Forrester, Chambers (Verdon 63 mins), McCormack, Greene; McGrath (Langley 70 mins).

Longford Town: Skinner; Mulhall, Gorman, Rossiter, Deady (Shannon 74 mins); Simon (O'Sullivan h/t), Rice, O'Connor, Salmon (Ben Mohamed 60 mins), Powell; Shaw.

Referee: P Tuite (Dublin)

Attendance: 1,165