When these two met down in Longford earlier this season they scored 6 goals in an incident packed 3-3 draw, it was not much of a suprise than that this game provided 5 goals and very nearly produced an identical comeback from 3-1 down by Longford Town.
Time ran out for the visitors on this occasion however as they failed to find the equaliser in a nerve racking 5 minutes of injury time played by referee, Jim O'Neill. Longford's Alan Kirby was up-ended inside the penalty area late in the game, but play was waved on, much to the relief of the Saints support who had seen their side throw away a similiar 3-1 lead down in Flancare Park.
St Patrick's dominated throughout however, with two good chances falling to an on-form Robbie McGuinness. The first came midway through the first half when he shot over after Longford had only half-cleared a cross from Trevor Croly. Then on 34 minutes he headed wide following a cross from Martin Russell. Michael Holt and Willie Burke also came close as Stephen O'Brien in the Town's goal was tested by some good approach work by the Saints midfield and attack.
The Saints finally got the goal their efforts deserved six minutes before the interval when Charles Mbabazi Livingstone capitalized on a defensive error by Wes Byrne and directed his shot into the bottom corner.
The performances of some of the fringe players in the Pats' squad such as McGuinness, Mannion, Holt and stand in keeper, Gallagher must have been very pleasing for the manager and a great advert for the large squad policy at Saint Patrick's.
Michael Holt scored Patrick's second on 49 minutes with a clever lob, as the Englishman finally made a convincing case for first choice status after a notoriously ineffective striking record for Pats before this game.
Although the Saints seemed well in control they did of course cause the usual late heart attacks among their own support by giving Longford an invite back into the game when Keith O'Connor converted Eric Lavine's cross at the far post.
Charlie restored St Patrick's cushion on 74 minutes as he scored at the second attempt as O'Brien parried his first shot back into his path before Reynolds scored in injury time for Longford with a well-struck shot from the edge of the box. It was too late however as the Saints hung on to a deserved and impressive win
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Gallagher, Croly, Foley, Maguire, Burke; McGuinness, Mannion, Osam, Russell; Mbabazi, Holt. Subs: Marney for McGuinness (77 mins); Griffin for Mannion (77); Doyle for Russell (85).
LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien, O'Halloran, S Byrne, McNally, W Byrne; Kirby, Perth, Reynolds, Prunty; O'Connor, Levine. Subs: Zellor for O'Connor (80); Holt for Perth (82).
Referee: Jim O'Neill (Waterford)
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