Longford Town 2 Linfield 1: Linfield made their first competitive trip South of the Border in over 20 years for this Setanta Cup clash in Flancare Park last night and the journey home could not have been a pleasant one folowing their defeat to the club currently at the bottom of the National League.
Indeed, the home side showed their undoubted cup pedigree in front of a 2,000 crowd on the Strokestown Road.
Longford, who lost to Glentoran in their opening Group One fixture, went in front very early on in an entertaining contest. Chances had been spurned by both Seán Prunty and Danny O'Connor before the home side took a deserved lead after six minutes. Dessie Baker floated in an inch-perfect corner, which was headed home by Stephen Paisley.
The reigning Irish League champions were completely disorganised as Longford continuously pressed forward in search of a second goal.
Linfield's inroads into Longford territory were much more sporadic. However, Glenn Ferguson did go close to grabbing a spectacular equalizer for the visitors in the 36th minute. His volley from Mark Picking's cross was only inches wide of Stephen O'Brien's left-hand post.
Longford extended their lead in first-half stoppage time when Baker, after opening up the visitors' defence, again provided a cross for Andy Myler to blast home his first goal for his new club.
The midland side were content to sit back and protect their lead in the second half. Their defence coped with everything Linfield threw at them and frustration set in for the visitors as attacks broke down through a combination of misplaced passes and bad finishing.
At the other end, substitute Eric Lavine brought a fine save out of goalkeeper Alan Mannus in the 67th minute. That was one of the few occasions Longford dared to venture forward in the second half.
There was no doubt that Linfield were gradually assuming control of a game that was beginning to lose its bite as a contest.
O'Brien was at full stretch to keep out Aidan O'Kane's looping effort in the 74th minute. O'Brien was again called into action four minutes later. This time he did well to turn away Paul McAreavey's strike as Linfield continued to run out of luck in front of goal.
They did manage pull a goal back with four minutes of normal time remaining when McAreavey got the final touch on an O'Kane free-kick but it was too late for the Belfast side as Longford held out for victory.
LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien; O'Connor, Paisley, Ferguson, Dillon; Baker, Martin, Fitzgerald, Prunty; Myler, Barrett. Subs: Kirby for Barrett (58 mins), Lavine for Myler (65 mins), Keegan for Baker (90 mins).
LINFIELD: Mannus; W Murphy, Bailie, McShane; Douglas, Gault, McAreavey, Picking, D Murphy; Ferguson, Larmour. Subs: Thompson for Picking (53 mins), O'Kane for McShane (68 mins) Campbell for Larmour (82 mins).
Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).
