Longford Town twice came from behind to deny St Patrick's Athletic all three points in a rip-roaring encounter at Flancere Park last night.

The visitors will wonder how they let this game slip. They were much the better team in the opening half and deservedly took the lead in the 21st minute. The goal came about as a result of Seamus Kelly's clearance. The ball found Charles Mbabazi Livingstone on the edge of the Longford penalty area and the Uganda international squeezed the ball past Stephen O'Brien.

Despite their dominance St Patricks endured a few anxious moments in the first half. Longford missed 30th-minute penalty when Paul McNally's weak effort was easily saved by Kelly. Longford got back on terms in the third minute of first-half injury time when Keith O'Connor headed home.

Longford were dominant in the early stages of the second half but it was the visitors who again went in front in the 53rd minute when Paul Marney crossed for Paul Osam to head home. Disadvantage was extended further just four minutes later when Martin Russell's brilliantly struck free kick went in with the aid of the right-hand post.

A Trevor Crolly own goal gave Longford some hope, the St Pat's defender unlucky to head Wes Byrne's free kick into his own net.

Longford got back on terms for the second time in the 84th minute when Longford's new signing Greg O'Hara struck from 30-yards to give the home side their fifth draw in succession.

LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien; O'Halloran, Smith, McNally, W Byrne, Gavin, S Byrne, Holt, Kirby, O'Connor, Lavine. Subs: Perth for Howthy 74 mins; Rodgers for Gavin 83 mins.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: S Kelly; Crolly, Maguire, Foley, Donnelly, Marney, Osam, Russell, Griffin, Livingtone, L Kelly. Subs: Boyle for Griffin 54 mins; Harris for L Kelly 80 mins.

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin)