Finn Harps . . . 1
Athlone Town . . . 1
Former Harps striker Gradi Lomboto scored a late winner as Athlone Town claimed a valuable win at Finn Park on Friday night.
Lomboto came off the bench to crack home a brilliant winner four minutes from the end – his goal set up by another former Harps frontman, Patrick Ferry.
It was tough on Harps who had come from behind to level the contest through Gavin McAteer on 68 minutes.
He forced the ball home from close range after Temi Ajibola headed an Oran Brogan cross off the post.
But while Harps looked to have done enough to have taken a point, Lomboto’s late goal saw the visitors leave with the win.
Harps had the better of a scrappy first half. Despite a slow start, they warmed to the challenge and with Tony McNamee and Gavin McAteer impressing in midfield, they worked a number of good situations.
Their best chance of the half fell to Conor Tourish who after showing super close control, shot straight at keeper, Brendan Clarke.
That chance on the half hour was quickly followed by a wonderful strike from McAteer which flashed just wide.
It was the visitors however, who struck first. Harps keeper Lorenzo Barbosa failed to deal with the delivery from James Crawford’s free kick on 53 minutes and Callum Cleary was able to head in from close range.
Harps did well to get back into the contest with McAteer’s goal, but it was former Harps man Lomboto who would have the final say.
With 68 minutes played, Oran Brogan’s teasing cross picked out Ajibola in the box and while his close range header came back off the post, Gavin McAteer was on hand to steer the loose ball home.