Seven months of unemployment were well worth the wait as Trebor Mahtal landed on his feet with Irish side Longford Town and led them to an immediate promotion. His success was rewarded by the club agreeing to allow the Zambian to take his first coaching course in three years of management.
Mahtal had his work cut out in his first full season in Ireland as his second club was set to become the only semi-professional side in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division. Mahtal’s rebuild began with 10 players leaving at the end of their contracts, including last season’s starting winger Valerii Doria. His first priority was to strengthen at the back, bringing in the experienced Sebastian Gorgá and Kacper Radkowski on free transfers and youngster Dejan Staicu on loan from Steaua Bucuresti, and renewing the loan deal for goalkeeper Jack Bradley from Shamrock. He also snapped up midfielder Paul Doyle, young full back Barry Farrell, wingers Seamas Keogh and 6ft 4in Aaron Evans, and striker Killian Cailloce on loan from St. Pat’s.
A more conservative approach would likely be required for the step up in quality. Mahtal initially stuck with last season’s 4-3-3, but he also worked on a couple of approaches that used a three-man defence.
Stepping Up To Irish Premier Division
The bookies considered Longford as slam-dunk favourites for relegation, predicting them to finish 10th with 1000/1 title odds. Their nearest challengers are likely to be Cork City and Galway United (150/1 and 50/1). However, shocks are possible in Ireland, as proven by outsiders Shelbourne winning the title last season. They’re currently 5th favourites at 12/1 to defend their title, but Shamrock Rovers are evens favourites followed by Waterford (9/2), Derry City (17/2) and Bohemians (10/1).
Longford’s bid for survival began with some really difficult tests. First up, they visited Waterford, who have an actual footballer Mahtal had heard of in Sean Longstaff playing. They started strongly and shocked their hosts as winger Josh Giurgi cut in from the left and converted into the bottom corner. The winger cut them open again on 20 minutes and his shot was parried to striker Rob Manley to double the lead. And they were in dreamland just before halftime as Staicu scored from a corner to take a fully deserved 3-0 lead into the break. Waterford scored from their first proper attack and grew into it but Manley’s late close-range effort killed them off.
A few days later, they went to reigning champions Shelbourne and again took a shock lead as midfielder Lee Devitt hit a stunning 25-yard volley into the top corner. The lead was doubled as Keogh’s low cross created a simple tap-in for Manley. However, the hosts predictably scored all three shots on target to take the lead. Next up, Longford’s first home game saw them welcome title favourites Shamrock and they were at it again as Gorga headed home a corner just before halftime and a magnificent volleyed through-ball by midfielder Jordan Flores put Manley in to double the lead just after it. And they eased to a surprisingly comfortable 2-0 victory – against a club that spends seven times more on wages!
Longford continued to surprise as Manley twice put them ahead in a 2-2 at home to Bohemians, before successive home draws 1-1s with Galway and St. Pat’s. And away days were a massive struggle, including a 4-2 defeat at Derry. But Mahtal switched to his 3-4-3 for the first time at home to Cork, which worked as a solid defensive effort held them off before Manley hit a late double. He stuck with it at Shamrock and Evans and Gorga nicked an impressive 2-2.
That saw Longford sitting 6th with 13 points, five above the dropzone, through the first quarter of the season. And Manley was the league’s second-top scorer with an impressive nine goals. They continued to upset Ireland’s big boys as last season’s hero Eoghan Stokes and Cailloce’s first for the club earned a lucky 2-2 at home to leaders Waterford and Manley nicked a 1-1 with 2nd-place Sligo. But a big moment saw a late own goal at Galway earn Longford their first away win since the opening day.
A rare goalkeeping masterclass saw Bradley, who made 7 saves and stopped a ludicrously awarded penalty, earn a 0-0 at home to bottom-side Derry before another rearguard effort earned a 0-0 at Cork. But they went into a month-long summer break with an unlucky 2-1 home defeat to Shamrock, who took the lead with a disgracefully offside goal.
That saw Longford fall to just one position and two points above the relegation places heading into the final 16 games. But, crucially, they maintained a 6-point gap to the only automatic relegation place.
Club Record Deals Ahead Of Relegation Battle
Mahtal looked to strengthen his squad for a tilt at survival, starting with record sales of backup midfielder Timmy Molloy to Europa FC for £20k, backup left back Jordan Flores to Walsall for £40k and then wantaway full back Barry Farrell to Derry for £100k. He pulled off a bit of a coup by signing centre back David Offord from East Kilbride for a club record £9.5k, then added versatile midfielder Alex Nolan and striker Gavin Hodgins on loan from Shelbourne.
Longford resumed with slightly unlucky 3-1 and 2-1 defeats at Sligo and Shelbourne but Flores’ late goal nicked an extremely creditable 1-1 at Waterford, who lost ground to leaders Shamrock who’d scored eight twice in a week! Mahtal celebrated 100 games in football by earning a 2-2 at home to Bohemians, which edged Longford 4 points above the relegation zone. A huge game followed in late July as winless in eight Longford hosted 9th-place Galway, who’d lost five on the bounce. They started well as Radkowski headed his first goal from a corner before a brilliant goal as Giugi ran down the right, played a one-two with Stokes and smashed into the far corner. Some terrible goalkeeping gifted Manley an open goal just before halftime and Doyle made it four just after it.
That crucial win took Longford 7 points above the relegation places with 12 games remaining. A week later, they drew 1-1 with St. Pat’s while resurgent bottom-side Derry crushed Galway 5-2 away then beat Bohemians to cut the gap to 6 points. That teed up a huge away day at Derry in late August and the strugglers teams played out a fittingly dire 0-0. Two home games followed and a defeat to Waterford was followed by Cailloca and Giurgi edging a 2-1 win over Shelbourne, while Derry lost 3-2 at home to runaway leaders Shamrock. Callioce’s goal earned a 1-1 at Bohemians, which moved Longford 10 points clear with five games remaining and surely secured survival.
A week later, Longford got battered 4-1 at home to Sligo while Derry pulled off a 3-2 win at Shelbourne. They then had nearly a month off ahead of a huge relegation battle at Galway, where Longford landed the first punch as Radkowski headed in from a corner. Derry went behind at Sligo just before halftime but equalised on 77 minutes, while Longford defended superbly to secure a crucial 1-0 victory.
That moved Longford 9 points clear with a 16 better goal difference with three games remaining. And a few days later, their top-flight status was secured with a wild 3-3 draw at St. Pat’s while Derry hammered Galway 5-0 to relegate them.
Longford finished the campaign with two terrible performances that saw them survive by 3 points. They finished 8th with 39 points after 8 wins, 15 draws and 13 defeats, scoring 57 and conceding 65. Derry joined them in survival by beating UCD in the relegation playoff.
Celebrating An Unlikely Survival
Mahtal was beyond delighted at leading Longford to survival against all the odds. They’d had some really tough days in the top tier but some truly memorable moments, including the opening day thrashing of Waterford and a victory over champions Shamrock.
Manley again led their goalscoring chart with 15 in 30 but his form massively nosedived after announcing he’d leave the club at the end of his contract. Cailloce chipped in with 9 in 28 followed by Giurgi, who also wants out, (8), Evans (7) and Gorgá and Doyle (4). Doyle led the way with 10 assists followed by Evans and Giurgi (7) and Nolan and Stokes (5).
Mahtal was under no illusions that they would again be favourites for the drop next season. But he was determined to continue strengthening the promising squad he was piecing together on a minimal budget.
Could Mahtal lead Longford to an improved second season in Ireland’s top flight? Or would they suffer a painful relegation? Join us on Monday to find out!
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