Shamrock Rovers accept Longford gifts to move fourth

Longford Town 0 Shamrock Rovers 2

An unfortunate own goal and a goalkeeping slip gifted Shamrock Rovers victory at a rain-sodden City Calling Stadium.

The win lifts Rovers back up to fourth place in the Premier Division table as Longford were left ruing their luck as they remain bottom.

With two up front, Longford started with purpose and really should have been ahead from a gilt-edged chance on 15 minutes.

Kaleem Simon worked a one-two with David O'Sullivan to be put clean through one-on-one with Craig Hyland. But somehow the winger side-footed wide when it seemed easier to score.

Longford were then left incensed on 24 minutes when Simon was clearly hauled down inside the area by Dave Webster, but no penalty was given.

Rovers showed much more impetus on the resumption with Gary McCabe cracking a shot off the Longford crossbar two minutes in after a clever run into the area by Brandon Miele.

Dean Clarke then shot wide across before an own goal gave Rovers their lead on 61 minutes. In attempting to put Clarke's cross out for a corner, Longford right-back Jamie Mulhall only succeeded in turning the ball into his own net.

A slip by Longford substitute keeper Ian Molloy, on his league debut, then gifted Rovers' their second goal on 78 minutes.

Molloy, 19, slipped on the wet surface as he came to clear a long ball. Rovers substitute Danny North was alert to pounce on the loose ball and tap it into the net.

Longford Town: Skinner (Molloy, 37); Mulhall, Flynn, Noack-Hofmann, Powell; Simon, Dillon (O'Connor, 74), Gannon, McGlynn (Cowan 50); O'Sullivan, O'Hanlon.

Shamrock Rovers: Hyland; Madden, Cornwall, Webster, G. Brennan; McPhail, K. Brennan; Miele (Cregg,79), McCabe, D. Clarke (T. Clarke, 86); Shaw (North, 64).

Referee: Ben Connolly (Dublin).