High-flying Drogheda kept their good early season form going with this victory in Flancare Park.
However, they looked anything but prospective champions in a poor encounter against the division’s bottom club.
Longford received a sucker punch as early as the ninth minute.
At one end of the field they had legitimate claims for a penalty after Damian Brennan’s goal-bound header appeared to be handled by a Drogheda defender and, in a quick breakaway the visitors were in front.
Paul Keegan played a delicate ball in behind the home defence and Shane Robinson’s exquisite 25 yard lob put the Drogs ahead.
Robinson went close again with a similar effort ten minutes later. This time, however, keeper Shay Kelly was back in time to tip the ball over.
Longford had a good chance to draw level in the 33rd minute when Dave Mooney crossed for the inrushing Gary Deegan. However, Deegan’s volley was narrowly off target.
Longford came out firing after the break and should have been level in the 62nd minute. Pat Sullivan’s long throw-in was headed on target by Kevin Doherty. However, Drogheda keeper Mikko Vilmunen pushed the ball around the post for a corner.
The midland outfit had another great chance just 12 minutes from time. Gary Deegan played in David Freeman. However, the striker screwed his effort the wrong side of the post.
Deegan again went close for the luckless home side just four minutes later. This time his scorching volley was comfortably saved by Vilmunen.
Longford Town: Kelly; Sullivan, Brennan (Wexler 56), Doherty, Prunty; Deegan, Doyle, J. Martin, Rutherford; Freeman, Mooney.
Drogheda Utd: Vilmunen; Lynch, Shelly, Gartland, Webb; Robinson, Keegan, Byrne, Cahill; Fitzpatrick (Zayed 56), O’Brien (O’Keefe 88).
Referee: P. Whelan (Dublin)
