Longford Town will host Cobh Ramblers on Saturday night, weather permitting, at the City Calling Stadium as they look to grab three points in their home opener. After relegation last season, Manager Alan Mathews has assembled a squad which many believe is good enough to bounce back at the first attempt.
After starting the season with a 0-0 draw up in Tokla Park, Mathews will be looking for a home win over Stephen Henderson’s men to give the players a real boost to their promotion chances.
Cobh will be no pushovers, as they managed to claim a playoff spot last season with a great run of form towards the tail end. They probably should have beat Wexford last weekend only for a bit of unsportsmanlike behaviour from new Wexford boss Damian Locke’s men. With ‘Kaka’ on the ground and in need of attention, Cobh kicked the ball out of play. Expecting them to return the ball, Wexford’s players took control and went ahead and scored. To say Henderson wasn’t best pleased is an understatement!
Longford will be without both Don Cowan and Noel Haverty, after they picked up knocks against Shelbourne, while Jake Kelly will have to undergo a fitness test prior to the game.
With Waterford having bounced back from an opening day defeat to Athlone, by beating Cabinteely 3-0, Longford will want a victory to stay ahead of their promotion rivals.