Longford Town 1 Bohemians 0: Goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien was Longford's hero as they snatched victory at Flancare Park on Saturday. Bohemians will wonder how they managed to lose this game after dominating for over an hour.
The Dublin side had gone close to scoring twice inside the opening 15 minutes. Aidan O'Keeffe was narrowly wide in the 13th minute and Stephen Ward saw his header going off the crossbar two minutes later.
The first real talking point of the game came in the 18th minute. Referee Paul McKeon awarded Bohemians a somewhat dubious penalty after O'Brien, it appeared, had won clean possession of the ball.
McKeon, however, adjudged that the goalkeeper had fouled Mark Duggan and pointed to the spot. But Kevin Hunt's resulting kick was saved by O'Brien.
Barry Ferguson had a good chance for Longford in the 28th minute but his header went just wide of the post.
Bohemians continued to dominate in the early stages of the second half.
Fergal Harkin played in Stephen Ward in the 52nd minute but the striker's effort was brilliantly tipped against the post by O'Brien.
Longford had a chance to score the opening goal in the 69th minute when Dave Mooney was put through on goal by Dean Fitzgerald, but he was denied by a fine Matt Gregg save.
They did go in front a minute later. Dessie Baker's cross offered a half chance to Danny O'Connor, whose effort broke to Paul Keegan. The former Bohemians player managed to prod the ball home to give the home side the three points.
LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien; O'Connor, Dillon, Ferguson, Prunty; Baker, Fitzgerald, Cawley, Cronin; Mooney, Keegan. Subs: Myler for Keegan (81 mins), Byrne for Cronin (84 mins).
BOHEMIANS: Gregg; Cooney, Palmer, Byrne, Keddy; Hunt, Harkin, Kelly, Duggan; Ward, O'Keeffe. Subs: Fitzgerald for O'Keeffe (74 mins).
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).
Leeds, fielding new signings Dan Harding, Eddie Lewis and Robbie Blake, were far from convincing during the second period as spirited Millwall threatened to claim a well-earned point. But Healy's 72nd-minute spot-kick - after Eirik Bakke was brought down in the box - handed Leeds a precious victory and condemned Colin Lee to a losing start as manager at Millwall.
Just 20,440 supporters were in attendance at the 40,000-capacity stadium despite Leeds averaging 29,206 last season - by far the highest in the Championship. The last time Leeds were watched by a league crowd of less than 22,000 at Elland Road was against Swindon Town in September 1989 when 21,694 attended in the old second division.
