Longford ensure safety

Longford Town 1 Bohemians 0Longford Town picked up the points they needed to make certain that they will be plying their trade in the Premier Division next season following this impressive victory against Bohemians.

The newly crowned Eircom League champions set about their business early on.

Mark Rutherford went close to putting them in front after only four minutes.

However, Longford settled well into the game and both Alan Kirby and Tom Silke had scoring chances in the first 10 minutes.

Bohemians should have taken the lead in the 28th minute when Gerry O'Neill managed to get in behind the Longford defence but with only goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien to beat the Bohemians striker shot tamely off target.

Longford took complete control thereafter. Vinnie Perth cracked a shot against the crossbar in the 37th minute while two minutes later Avery John saw his curling free kick well saved by Ashley Bayes in the Bohemians goal.

Longford continued on the attack in the early stages of the second half. Bayes could only parry Shane Barrett's 48th minute strike but unfortunately for the home side Brian Byrne totally miscued the follow up with an empty net at his mercy.

However, the midlanders eventually went in front in the 68th minute.

Bobby Ryan was harshly penalised for a tackle on Eric Lavine inside the Bohemians penalty area but Barry Ferguson made no mistake from the spot-kick.

Bohemians substitute Dave Morrison came close to levelling matters in the 77th minute but his cracking effort went narrowly wide of O'Brien's right-hand post.

LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien, John, Sheridan, Ferguson, Silke, Perth, Kirby,Francis, Byrne, Barrett, Lavine. Subs: Mulvihill for Sheridan (61mins), Crowe for Barrett (81 mins).

BOHEMIANS: Bayes, Lynch, Reilly, Hunt, Coughlan, O'Connor, Ryan, McCaffrey, Keegan, O'Neill,Rutherford. Subs: Morrison for Rutherford 48 (mins), Webb for Reilly (71 mins), Doyle for O'Neill (77 mins).

Referee: T Kelly (Moate)