Sport

Dundalk take vital points

Longford Town 1  Dundalk 3: Dundalk picked up their first league victory since December 27th at Flancare Park on Saturday night…

Mon Feb 25 2002 - 00:00

Longford Town 1  Dundalk 3:Dundalk picked up their first league victory since December 27th at Flancare Park on Saturday night to move to within four points of fellow relegation strugglers, Longford Town.

Longford haven't beaten Dundalk all season. Their two previous meetings ended in stalemate but Saturday night's win was perhaps the most vital of the season for the Louth men.

Longford started in tremendous fashion and should have gone in front after six minutes.

Eric Lavine sent in a cross from the right which fell to Keith O'Connor. However, O'Connor somehow managed to steer the ball wide of the post from just three yards out.

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Longford had another superb chance in the 11th minute. Wesley Byrne sent in a corner which was headed over by Stephen Kelly.

However, two goals within the space of 60 seconds for the visitors turned this game on its head.

Ciaran Kavanagh scored his first goal for Dundalk with a 19th-minute deflected strike and Gary Haylock side-footed home goal number two one minute later.

Haylock scored a superb second goal on the stroke of half-time. The striker took advantage of a mistake from Longford's Alan Reynolds before unleashing a rocket past Longford goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien.

Longford pulled a goal back in the 54th minute when Danny Spiller's angled drive found its way to the back of the net through a maze of defenders.

The home crowd thought they were in for a grandstand finish when referee Anthony Buttimer awarded their side a 62nd minute penalty.

Eric Lavine was felled inside the area by Donal Broughan, but Spiller's spot-kick was well saved by John Connolly.

This setback took the wind out of Longford's sails and Dundalk held on for a comfortable victory.

LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien, Rose, W Byrne, Reynolds, S Byrne, McNally, Kelly, Spiller, Lavine, O'Connor, Zeller. Subs: M Byrne for Kelly (58 mins), Coleman for Lavine (78).

DUNDALK: Connolly, Whyte, Crawley, Broughan, McGuinness, Flanagan, Kavanagh, Reilly, Haylock, Prizeman, Keddy. Subs: Callaghan for Broughan (87), Malone for Reilly (89).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).