Stephen Henderson gone as winless Longford Town suffer bad defeat against Bray at Bishopsgate

In the aftermath of the bad defeat against Bray Wanderers at Bishopsgate on Saturday night last, bottom of the table Longford Town have parted company with their first team manager Stephen Henderson after a run of poor results in the Airtricity League First Division this season with no win from eight games played during his reign.  

The following is part of the statement released on Longford Town FC twitter on Saturday night:   

‘The club parted ways with Manager Stephen Henderson. The club would like to express our gratitude to Stephen for his dedicated efforts during his time with the club.'

In another twist to the turmoil tale, a further statement was issued by Longford Town FC on twitter on Sunday morning with first team coach Gavin Peers announcing his resignation from the club.  

'The club can confirm that Gavin Peers has resigned from his role with the club. We’d like to thank Gavin for his efforts during his time with the red and black and wish him all the best for the future.'

Longford Town . . . 0  Bray Wanderers . . . 3

Bray Wanderers recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season as second half goals from Peter Grogan, Max Murphy, and Harry Groome sealed all three league points against a winless Longford Town at Bishopsgate on Saturday night last. 

Longford Town produced some promising attacks in the first half. only for the final ball to be lacking each time, but in truth it was a very poor display from the midlanders who failed to register a single attempt on the Bray goal.

The home side, badly lacking in confidence, looked bereft of ideas and creativity, and Bray thoroughly deserved their victory.

The three chances in the first half all fell to the visitors. On 23 minutes, a Kieran Cruise free-kick  from the right picked out Wanderers’ centre-half Paul Murphy at the back post but his goalbound header lacked power.

In the 28th minute, the best opportunity in the first half was missed by Bray. Peter Grogan produced a superb run down the right that resulted in his low cross reaching the inrushing Cruise on the left just fifteen yards out from goal but he blasted his shot into the Town sidenetting with opposing keeper Jack Brady stranded.

In first half stoppage time, a forty-yard strike from Shane Griffin almost rattled the Town net but keeper Brady just about managed to get his fingertips to the ball to push it over the bar.

Bray continued to be the better team in the early stages of the second half and their talented striker Grogan caused the Town defence lots of problems.

On the 55th minute mark, he narrowly headed over a Shane Griffin free-kick, but two minutes later the current Irish Schools player of the year fired the visitors into the lead with a composed finish.

A superb long low pass from Cruise split open the Town defence but centre-half Oisin Hand seemed to have the danger under control in the race to the ball with Grogan.

But Hand misjudged the ball and Grogan nipped in to steal possession before running in on goal and directing a low shot to the bottom corner of the Longford net.

Bray doubled their advantage in the 64th minute when a Conor Knight pass found Max Murphy down the right inside the Town box and he brilliantly fired across Town keeper Brady into the left corner of the Longford net.

A dominant Bray nearly scored a third on 71 minutes but Griffin’s excellent free-kick produced an excellent save from Town netminder Brady.

An unmarked Freddie Turley then missed a glorious chance for rampant Wanderers when he headed wide from close range on 78 minutes.

Bray only had to wait another two minutes for their third goal as Groome capitalised on another Longford defensive lapse to fire in a twenty-yard shot to secure all three points for Ian Ryan’s side. 

Longford Town (4-1-4-1): Brady, Elworthy, Hand, O’Shea, O’Connor, Tallon, Wade Slater, Hery, Wixted, Chambers, Lyons.

Subs:- Campbell for Hand, Clarke for Wixted (both 73 mins).

Bray Wanderers (4-2-3-1): McGuinness, Max Murphy, Cantwell, Paul Murphy, Osam, Groome, Griffin, Knight, Turley, Cruise, Grogan.

Subs:-  Craven for Knight, Magerusan for Grogan (both 70 mins), Thompson for Turley (80 mins), Morgan for Griffin, Duggan for Max Murphy (both 87 mins).

Referee: Rob Hennessy.